SULAIMANI (ESTA) — Four people were detained trying to cross into Iraq from Syria, the Iraqi military said on Sunday.
In a statement, Iraq’s security media cell said the security forces arrested four Syrian nationals in the village of al-Shaalan in Rabia district, west of Nineveh.
The Iraqi forces have detained dozens of Syrians who were trying to cross into Iraq from Syria in the past months.
Authorities said last week that as many as 20 Syrian nationals including women and children were arrested on the border with Syria.
In May, six more Syrians were detained as they were attempting to illegally cross into 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.
The Iraqi military has also detained several ISIS suspects 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.
