SULAIMANI (ESTA) — Iraqi forces detained 13 people attempting to cross into Iraq from Syria, authorities said on Monday.
In a statement, Iraq’s security media cell said the security forces “ambushed” a group of people in al-Abtakh village in Rabia district after they crossed the Syrian border.
The group included 13 Iraqis, who illegally crossed into Syria in the past years, it added.
Iraqi forces have detained dozens of people including Syrians for attempting to cross the border between Syria and Iraq in the past months.
Earlier this month, the security forces detained 15 Syrians in an “ambush” in the village of Mushairfa in Rabia after they crossed the border between Syria and Iraq.
Iraq has tightened security along 600 km border with Syria to curb the movement of Islamic State (ISIS) militants, drug smuggling and other illegal activities.
