Asadi expects a possible clash between the Iraqi regular forces supported by the PMU with what he called “terrorist groups, controlling an area of 100 kilometers [62 miles] inside the Syrian border.”
“If we do not attack these groups, they will simply attack us first. This is when the clash will occur as we will protect our border, as we believe that the presence of these groups inside the Syrian border will pose a threat to Iraq,” Asadi added.
On April 7, Al-Monitor published an article regarding Iraq’s readiness to enter into the Syrian war. In the same vein, Wahhab al-Tai, adviser to the Iraqi interior minister, told Radio Sawa on May 15, “Iraq will not only defend its borders from within but will reach some areas beyond its borders to prevent the infiltration of terrorist gangs, especially from Syria.”
“There is security cooperation between Iraq and Syria in this regard, within the framework of the security quartet, which also includes Russia and Iran,” Tai added.
Iraq laid out a military plan to secure its border with Syria. Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said during a press conference May 9, “Iraq’s plan in the next phase is securing the Iraqi-Syrian border from terrorist groups.”
Iraqi national security adviser Faleh al-Fayyad, Abadi’s envoy to Syria and head of the PMU, confirmed to Almayadeen TV Feb. 8 that “the PMU is securing the Syrian-Iraqi border.”
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