Iraq amasses armoured vehicles on border with Syria amid tension
- 3 December, 11:18
The lighting offensive of Syria’s opposition fraction lead by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), has generated deep concerns in neighbouring countries.
Following Iran-backed militia’s deployment to Syria, Iraq has also started amassing its armored vehices on the border with Syria amid concerns over Islamist rebels’ offensive in the neighbouring country.
"Any infiltration on the Syrian-Iraqi border is absolutely impossible, because of the fortifications and the combat units located there," interior ministry spokesman General Moqdad Miri said on Monday.
Iraq’s Defence Ministry reported on Monday it sent "armoured units of the Iraqi army" to reinforce the border, from the western border town of Al-Qaim to the border with Jordan further south.
The deployment of military hardware on Syrian border follows the stationing of Iraq-based pro-Iranian militia in Syria. According to London-based war monitor Syrian Observatory for Human Right, 200 fighters from a pro-Iran Iraqi armed group being sent into Syria to support Bashar al-Assad’s forces in battles against Islamist rebels. The militants entered the Boukamal region through the border at Al-Qaim in two waves, the center said.
Thousands Syrian rebels made major territorial gains in the surprise attack on western Syrian city of Aleppo and Idlib neighbourhood.
