Iraq deploys armoured units to border following escalation in Syria

Iraq has deployed armoured military units along its borders with Syria and Jordan in response to escalating violence in neighboring Syria.

The Iraqi Army’s armored units have been stationed to reinforce the open border areas extending from the town of Al-Qaim, near Syria, to the Jordanian frontier. This deployment follows similar reinforcements in the western Nineveh Province, a region deemed crucial for border security, Caliber.Az reports citing foreign media.

Last week, additional military reinforcements were also sent to the Sinjar district, located in the northwest of Mosul, to secure the Iraqi-Syrian border.

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani, in a phone conversation with Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad, reiterated that the security of both Syria and Iraq is intertwined. He affirmed Iraq’s readiness to offer “all necessary support to Syria in combating terrorism and its various organizations.”

This military reinforcement coincides with intensifying conflict in Syria, particularly in the Aleppo countryside. On November 27, clashes erupted between opposition factions and government forces. The rebel groups, mainly aligned with Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, rapidly seized large parts of Idlib Province, including major cities like Ma'arrat al-Numan and Khan Sheikhoun. By November 29, they had advanced into Aleppo, capturing key locations such as Saadallah al-Jabiri Square, government offices, police stations, and the historic Aleppo Citadel.

In response, the Syrian army launched counteroffensives, retaking most villages in the Hama countryside and concentrating efforts on securing the Athriyah-Khanasir-Safira road, a vital supply route in southern Aleppo.

Syrian state media reported that the government's campaign aims to expel opposition factions and stabilize central Syria, ensuring secure passage for military and civilian traffic along essential routes.

Syrian officials have reaffirmed their commitment to restoring sovereignty over the entire country, with a government spokesperson declaring in a televised statement, “Our efforts will not cease until every inch of Syrian land is liberated from the grip of terrorism.”

By Vafa Guliyeva