SULAIMANI (ESTA) — Nine more Syrian nationals were arrested on the Iraqi border with Syria for attempting to cross into Iraq, security media cell said on Sunday, as the country has tightened security on the border.
A unit from the Iraqi military set up an “ambush” in Shaalan village in Rabia district, western Iraq, to arrest a group of Syrians trying to cross into Iraq from Syria, Iraq’s security media cell said in a statement.
The military unit detained nine people who were members of a Syrian family after they crossed the border, it added.
The Iraqi forces have detained dozens of Syrians for attempting to cross into Iraq from Syria in the past months.
As many as 13 Syrians were arrested on the Iraqi border with Syria last week, according to authorities.
In July, as many as 20 Syrians including women and children were arrested on the border with Syria.
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.
