Iraq fortifies Syria border against Islamic State

Mohammed Hardan

Mar 30, 2021

Iraqi security forces stand guard as workers are digging a trench on the northern Iraqi border with Syria to prevent people from crossing over into Iraq's autonomous Kurdistan region, on April 13, 2014 in Zakho. — Iraqi security forces stand guard as workers dig a trench on the northern Iraqi border with Syria to prevent people from crossing into Iraq's autonomous Kurdistan Region, on April 13, 2014, in Zakho. — SAFIN HAMED/AFP via Getty Images)

Iraq's Joint Operations Command has secured about 140 kilometers (87 miles) of the border with Syria against Islamic State militants in coordination with Russia, Iran and the Syrian regime.

Despite the terror group's defeat in July 2017, IS continues to maintain sleeper cells in large areas of Iraq and Syria and its sporadic attacks kill and injure many people.