Commander: Hashd al-Shaabi Entrusted with Establishment of Security at Iraqi-Syrian Border

“Based on Haider al-Abadi’s order, Hashd al-Shaabi’s next responsibility is establishing security at Iraq-Syria borders,” Spokesman for Asaeb Ahl Al-Haq Battalion (one of the popular forces fighting alongside the Iraqi army) Javad al-Talibavi was quoted as saying by al-Ma’lomah news website on Monday.

Noting that Hashd al-Shaabi has been able to regain control of all ISIL supply routes in the Western parts of Nineveh province as well as areas near al-Be’aj, Tal Afar and al-Qirwan, he said chasing the terrorists inside the Syrian territories by Hashd al-Shaabi depends on al-Abadi’s decision.

Reports said earlier this month that Hashd al-Shaabi is planning to close Iraq-Syria border by launching military operations in the surrounding areas of the city of Mosul in Nineveh province.

“Hashd al-Shaabi forces who are fighting the ISIL in Mosul city are planning to move towards Iraq’s border with Syria and seal off the borders in a bid to prevent the ISIL terrorists from escaping to Syria from Iraq,” the Russian-language Isvestia newspaper quoted Ehsan al-Shamri, a senior advisor to al-Abadi, as saying.

Al-Shamri also said this move comes as the battle of Mosul will end soon and the threat posed to the Iraqi forces by the ISIL terrorists who are now stationed in Mosul is less serious than the ISIL terrorists stationed along the Syrian border.

He also pointed to the ISIL’s movements between Iraq and Syria as well as dispatch of ammunition and medicine as one of the main problems in the fight again the ISIL, and said, “The Iraqis have decided to prevent the ISIL terrorists from moving across the border with Syria and consequently facilitate the Syrian army troops’ fight against the ISIL terrorist group.