After hundreds of alleged Islamic State (IS) fighters escaped detention facilities in northeastern Syria in an attack in late January, Iraq says it has stepped up control of its western border.
The focus has been on Ninevah province, the birthplace of the now-defunct IS leader known as Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Quraishi. Quraishi reportedly blew himself up early Feb. 3 during a US Special Forces raid on his hideout in northwestern Syria.
