SULAIMANI (ESTA) — The U.S.-led Coalition forces equipped Iraqi border guards with thermal cameras for reconnaissance missions against Islamic State (ISIS) militants, an Iraqi military official said on Monday.
The Coalition forces continued to arm and equip the Iraqi security forces to build their capabilities, said spokesman of Iraq’s Joint Operations Command Major General Tahsin al-Khafaji, according to state news agency INA.
“The Coalition starts providing the border guards with smart towers and thermal cameras for reconnaissance missions against terrorists,” said Khafaji.
Coalition Spokesman Col. Wayne Marotto said the Coalition forces “remains committed to building key security capabilities of our Iraqi partner forces to improve regional stability.”
Iraq is tightening security along 600 km border with Syria to curb the movement of ISIS militants, drug smuggling and other illegal activities.
Lieutenant-General Abdul Amir al-Shammari said in January that Iraq was stepping up use of high-tech thermal cameras and observation balloons.
Shammari said some families of ISIS fighters had recently been detained after crossing from Al-Hol, a displacement camp on the Syrian side housing tens of thousands of people who fled ISIS’ final enclaves.
