Iraqi officials and Kurdistan Region officials discussed measurements to be taken for security on the Turkish and Iranian borders, reported Erbil-based (Hewlêr) Rudaw.
A high-level security delegation headed by Iraqi Interior Minister Abdul Amir al-Shammari visited the capital of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Erbil on 12 December.
The delegation held a meeting with the KRG Interior Minister, Rebar Ahmad Khalid, as well as military officials responsible for security and launched a joint press statement.
Major General Saad Maan said that the purpose of this visit is “to discuss and outline the mechanism for reinforcing security on Iraq’s border with Turkey and Iran”, and other logistics details.
The 1st Regional Command, which is responsible for the protection of the borders of the Kurdistan Region from Khanaqin (Xaneqin) to Zakho (Zaxo), is headquartered in Erbil and has approximately 6,500 soldiers, reported Rudaw.
Abdul Wahab Al Saadi, Director of Border Security said that, as Iraqi forces, they will support the 1st Regional Command increasing the number of forces, deploying them to the zero point of the border, and meeting all needs including thermal cameras, vehicles and special equipment.
“We will not allow Iraq to be used as a field of attack against neighbouring countries,” said Yahya Resul, a military spokesman for the prime minister, on 4 December.
Following the nationwide protests in Iran, Turkish warplanes and Iran’s artillery bombarded several areas across Iraqi Kurdistan and caused many casualties in the region.
Turkish Presidential spokesman İbrahim Kalın previously said that Turkey’s military operations against the Kurdish regions in Syria and Iraq would continue uninterrupted.
Nevertheless, some 50 European MEPs called on Ursula Von Der Leyen and Josep Borrell to take diplomatic action against attacks on Kurdish people by Iran and Turkey, urging an immediate stop to any cross-border operations into Syrian or Iraqi territory.
