UNIPATH STAFF
As the borders separating Iraq, Syria and Jordan faced escalating attacks by Daesh, Iraq in May 2017 began sending military reinforcements to a highway linking it with Syria and Jordan, said Col. Ahmed al-Dulaimi of the Iraqi Army.
Military and paramilitary reinforcements were sent to the international road running from the Iraqi city of Ar-Rutba in Anbar province to Jordan and Syria. The deployments seek to block attempts by Daesh to sneak across the borders.
Iraqi and U.S.-led coalition fighter jets have regularly pounded Daesh strongholds in the Iraqi towns of Annah, Qaim and Rawa, killing dozens of terrorists. Thousands of civilians are thought to be trapped in these locations, Iraqi forces launched a major offensive to liberate western Anbar area in November, 2017.
In recent months, Jordan has also worked to shore up its defenses along this border. Brig. Gen. Sami Kafawin, commander of Jordan’s border guard forces, said in January 2017 that Jordan is deploying “more and more forces” to the area to safeguard against Daesh extremists being dislodged from their strongholds in Iraq and Syria.
“We reinforced our borders, especially in the northern part and eastern part,” Brig. Gen. Kafawin said. “We are reinforced by manpower, equipment and the whole weapons system.”
Sources: IraqiNews.com, Fox News, CNN