INA - BAGHDAD

Deputy Commander of Joint Ops, Lieutenant General Qais Al-Muhammadawi, confirmed on Monday that Iraq prepared early to strengthen and protect its western borders as well as secure its internal front.

"According to the vision of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Iraq prepared early and with high priority to strengthen the protection of Iraq's borders with Syria, anticipate all challenges and give priority to securing them as well as strengthening internal security and preparing precautions. The armed forces strengthened the borders through fortifications, defensive lines and maneuvering in the units," said Al-Muhammadawi to the Iraqi News Agency - INA.

He noted, "Iraq's position is firm in supporting the unity of Syria, the integrity of its territories, and respecting all its components. Terrorism and terrorist groups should not be part of a political situation or a new formation or any title because Iraq has previously suffered from the repercussions of the developments in Syria that produced terrorist groups crossing the border and attacking Iraqi cities. To confront and defeat them, we made very great sacrifices, and we will not allow any threat." 

"We, in Iraq, respect the will of the Syrian people and appreciate their positions with the Iraqi people. We need to secure the borders and not allow any developments that affect Iraq because the theater of operations in Syria had a great impact on Iraq on the political, security and economic levels in 2014 during the days of the Daesh terrorist gangs' attack," he pointed out.