Iraq launches military operation to secure border with Syria

The Iraqi army today launched a military operation to secure its borders with Syria.

The operation, code-named “Revenge of the Martyrs”, aims to secure the border area between Iraq and Syria, commander of the Iraqi Border Guards, Hamid Al-Husseini, said in statements carried by the official Iraqi News Agency.

He said military forces, border guards, and the pro-government Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF) are taking part in the operation.

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Iraq shares 1,000-kilometre borders with Syria. In recent months, Daesh has escalated its attacks on Iraq, especially in the area between Kirkuk, Saladin, and Diyala, known as the Triangle of Death.

In 2017, Iraq declared victory over Daesh by reclaiming all territories the terrorist group controlled since the summer of 2014 which was estimated to be about a third of the country.

The group, however, still maintains sleeper cells in the country and launches sporadic attacks.