Iraq draws up plan to redeploy border forces with Iran, Turkey

Iraq’s National Security Ministerial Council decided Wednesday evening to draw up a plan for redeploying border forces along the zero-line border with Iran and Turkey.

The Ministerial Council for National Security held a meeting under the chairmanship of Prime Minister and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Mohammed Shia’ Al Sudani, and issued four resolutions to secure Iraq’s borders.

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In a statement published by the Iraqi News Agency, Iraqi Army Spokesperson Major General Yahya Rasoul said, “The National Security Ministerial Council held a meeting on Wednesday evening under the chairmanship of the Prime Minister, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Mohammed Shia’ Al Sudani. The meeting was attended by members of the Council and the Peshmerga Chief of Staff.

“As part of efforts to stop these attacks, as well as the continuation of diplomatic efforts, the Security Council adopted the following resolutions:

A plan is in place to redeploy Iraqi border forces along the zero-line border with Iran and Turkey.

Secure all logistical support requirements for the command of the border forces, and enhance human capacity, necessary funds, and equipment to enable them to carry out their tasks.

Maneuver with human resources available to the Ministry of the Interior to strengthen border posts.

Coordinate with the KRG and the Ministry of Peshmerga to accomplish paragraphs 1 and 2 above with the aim of unifying the national effort to protect Iraq’s borders.”

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“For two consecutive months, Iran has been intensifying its military operations inside Iraqi territory on the border in the Kurdistan region, targeting the headquarters of Iranian opposition parties, including the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), the Kurdistan Freedom Party (KDP), and the Kurdistan Sarbasti.”

On Tuesday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced that “tanks and soldiers of his country are massing on the borders with Iraq and Syria in preparation for a military invasion to force the parties that attacked Turkey to pay a price.”