SULAIMANI (ESTA) — The Iraqi military detained six Syrians attempting to illegally cross into Iraq from Syria, security media cell said in a statement on Monday.
In a statement, the security media cell said a unit of the military’s intelligence arrested the group in a “tight ambush” after following their movement through thermal cameras in Jilbarat area in Rabia district, located on the border between Iraq and Syria.
“They were handed over to the Rabia police station,” the statement read.
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.
The Iraqi military has detained several ISIS members who were trying to cross the border with Syria in the past months.
The federal government announced victory over ISIS by the end of 2017 after Iraqi and Kurdish forces backed by U.S.-led Coalition regained control of areas once captured by the militant group.
Despite its defeat, ISIS still poses a threat to the security and stability of the country as there are still sleeper cells in Iraq.
