Top Iraqi officials emphasize need to strengthen border security

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Iraqi President Abdul Latif Rashid and National Security Advisor Qasim al-Araji on Monday stressed the need to tighten up security of the country’s borders and prevent Islamic State (ISIS) cells from creating chaos.

Rashid and Araji affirmed that “the security and intelligence efforts should be intensified in monitoring the borders to pursue ISIS terrorist cells and combat organized crime gangs to preserve the security and interests of the citizens and the country,” according to a statement from the Iraqi presidency.

The meeting follows a visit by Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani to Baghdad, where he met with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani and addressed the importance of strengthening the border security of the Region and Iraq in light of recent attacks from neighbors Iran and Turkey. 

“No threat or military action will be allowed from within the borders of Iraq and the Kurdistan Region against the neighboring countries … but no armed groups will be allowed to operate in the Kurdistan Region” were the decisions that Barzani and Sudani took in their meeting, according to a statement from Barzani’s office.

Iran and Turkey have greatly increased their cross-border attacks on the Kurdistan Region in recent months, with the former targeting Iranian-Kurdish opposition groups based in the Region on the grounds that they are fueling the ongoing unrest in the Islamic republic while the latter on Sunday launched a fresh aerial campaign targeting Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) positions in the Region.