ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Iraqi Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) commanders deployed along the Iraq-Syria border on Saturday dismissed what they described as threats from Damascus-affiliated forces, saying Iraq’s borders are secure as Baghdad steps up measures to prevent a spillover of instability from Syria.
Abu al-Hassanein, commander of the PMF’s al-Tufuf Brigade, rejected a video circulating on social media purportedly taken by the Syrian Arab Army and its allied factions that has been interpreted as a warning to Iraq.
“This is weak and cowardly propaganda. We are now on the [border]. Let them come and try their luck once again; they will see that they face the heroic role of Iraq's security forces and Hashd al-Shaabi [PMF],” he told Rudaw at the al-Qaim border crossing.
Abu Saif al-Tamimi, a representative of the same brigade, said PMF forces would prevent any breach of Iraqi territory.
“Let them say what they want, as long as we are here, they cannot reach Karbala or advance one foot into Iraq,” he said.
Qasim Muslih, the PMF’s Anbar operations commander, denied any direct coordination with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), saying such matters fall under state authority.
“No, we have no contact. I say again, we have no contact. But if the Iraqi government has any coordination between both countries, they [the government] handle it themselves, not the commanders here,” Muslih said.
The statements come amid heightened concern in Baghdad that the Islamic State (ISIS) is exploiting security gaps created by renewed fighting in Syria.