PM: Iraq won’t stand by as Syria faces growing threats

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed al-Sudani assured Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan that Baghdad is committed to safeguarding the security of both Iraq and Syria during a telephone conversation. 

This statement was released by the Iraqi government office on its Telegram channel, Caliber.Az reports referencing foreign media.

"The Prime Minister informed Erdogan that Iraq will not stand by and watch the dangerous developments taking place in Syria and will make every effort to preserve its security and that of Syria," the statement read.

In light of escalating tensions, Iraq has deployed armoured units to its border with Syria to bolster security. Yahya Rasul, spokesman for the Commander-in-Chief of the Iraqi Armed Forces, confirmed this move, stating, "As one of the measures to strengthen the border [with Syria], armoured units have been sent to the region."

Rasul added that regular army forces, alongside the Shiite militia group al-Hashd al-Shaabi, are stationed in support of border troops. "Intelligence units are actively working to monitor the Syrian border area, analyzing the data they receive," he said, assuring that "the Iraqi border is fortified, reliable, and secure."

Addressing reports of incursions into Syria, Rasul denied claims that al-Hashd al-Shaabi units had crossed into Syrian territory.

The situation in northern Syria remains tense following a large-scale attack launched on November 27 by Jebhat al-Nusra militants. The insurgents targeted villages, military facilities, and Syrian government positions, prompting a fierce response from the Syrian Armed Forces.

On November 30, the Syrian military reported retaliatory strikes against militant positions in Aleppo after insurgents infiltrated several neighbourhoods. The Syrian Ministry of Defence stated that the army was regrouping to protect civilians, preserve military personnel, and prepare for a counterattack.

In parallel developments, the Bahraini newspaper in an exclusive report stated that the Syrian Armed Forces successfully pushed back opposition groups from Hama, a city in western Syria.

By Tamilla Hasanova