ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The Iraqi Ministry of Defense said on Monday that federal forces and the Kurdistan Region’s Peshmerga are on full alert along the country’s border with Syria, as renewed clashes between the Syrian Arab Army and the Kurdish forces across the frontier raise concerns over the security of prisons holding Islamic State (ISIS) members.
Major General Tahsin al-Khafaji, Director of Media and Moral Guidance at Iraq’s defense ministry، told Rudaw on Monday that “federal forces and the Peshmerga are in full readiness at the borders to confront any infiltration, and we have coordination and information exchange in all fields,” he said.
He added that preparedness covers all border sectors. “Therefore, whatever situation arises - whether on the borders of the Kurdistan Region, for which the Peshmerga are responsible, or the borders under federal government authority - we are prepared to respond,” al-Khafaji said.
The defense spokesperson stressed that Iraqi forces have both the manpower and experience to deal with potential threats. “We have sufficient capability at the borders to respond to threats and to arrest or kill anyone attempting to enter the country. Our operations are ongoing, and we are closely monitoring terrorist groups,” he said.
Addressing developments in Syria and northeastern Syria (Rojava), al-Khafaji said Iraqi authorities are closely “monitoring the situation and the events occurring in Syria; at the same time, our borders are protected, and we have experience dealing with terrorist groups in the most difficult geographical terrains,” he said.
He also highlighted ongoing coordination with international partners. “Our forces continue to cooperate with the international community to combat the ISIS organization. Information exchange and the tracking of [militants] is a continuous task for us and the international community,” al-Khafaji added.