Iraqi Officials Alarmed by Potential Spillover of Extremism from Syria

Iraqi officials expressed their apprehension about the impact of the ongoing Syrian conflict, particularly regarding the spread of extremism and "terrorism," as they described it, across the shared border.

Their concerns stem from the period between 2014 and 2017, when Daesh terrorists infiltrated Iraq, causing widespread destruction to lives and infrastructure.

The Iraqi Interior Ministry reported yesterday that 2,750 Syrians crossed into Iraq, including 2,000 soldiers from the Syrian government forces. These soldiers entered fully armed but subsequently handed over their equipment to Iraqi armed forces.

Officials stressed the significance of securing the border to prevent any similar influx of violence.