Saudi official: northern border with Iraq is secure

Saudi Arabia’s northern border with Iraq is safe and equipped with the latest security equipment including infrared cameras, the spokesman for the Saudi border guards, General Mohammad Saad Al-Ghamdi said.

During an interview with Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper, Al-Ghamdi pointed out that the border patrol security units did not spot any unusual movements near the Saudi-Iraq border, in reference to having ISIS. He added: “The security presence on the Kingdom’s borders increases during holidays and certain seasons which are often exploited by others to infiltrate into the Kingdom or conduct criminal acts.”

Al-Ghamdi said the border guards caught an infiltrator recently near the Kuwaiti border compared to a daily rate of 400 infiltrators caught from different nationalities in the Kingdom’s southern border.

He emphasised the high level of security coordination between the military’s various units as well as the rapid intervention teams supported by the Saudi Air Force that are employed at the border crossing points.

Al-Ghamdi did not speak of any security coordination with the Iraqi government on the border issue which stretches for more than 814 kilometres.