Border Forces Command Announces Completion of Integrated Defensive Network Across Iraq’s Borders
Peregraf – Iraq’s Border Forces Command announced on Saturday that it has completed an integrated defensive network along the entire border strip, marking the most extensive fortification project undertaken in years.
The Command told the Iraqi News Agency (INA) that construction of border fortifications began in 2022 along the Iraqi-Syrian frontier, covering more than 618 kilometers. So far, around 350 kilometers of the concrete security wall have been finished, with work ongoing to seal remaining gaps and curb infiltration and smuggling.
Multi-Layered Barrier System
According to the Command, the concrete wall is supported by a layered system of obstacles, including a 3-meter-wide, 3-meter-deep slit trench, a 3-meter-high earthen berm, a four-layer concertina wire barrier, and a metal BRC fence. Watchtowers are placed every kilometer and equipped with advanced thermal cameras linked to a central surveillance network.
The Command stressed that the defensive structure extends beyond the wall itself, forming a comprehensive network of trenches, barbed wire, early-warning systems, and high-precision day-and-night surveillance equipment operating 24/7.
Local Production Cuts Costs
Officials noted that the Command continues expanding fortifications by contracting companies and relying on its own concrete factory, which produces around 200 high-specification concrete blocks daily. This domestic production has significantly reduced project costs and accelerated construction.
Fortifications Adjusted to Threat Level
The Command said that defensive measures are also being implemented along borders with Iran, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Turkey, though at varying scales depending on the security risks in each area.
Along the Iranian border, for example, measures include slit trenches, concertina wire, and BRC fencing, with additional fortifications ongoing based on field assessments.
It also revealed a contract with the Defense Industries Commission to acquire more than 35 unmanned aircraft with a range of up to 80 kilometers, to be deployed across all border sectors.
Central Surveillance Hub Now Operational
A new Surveillance and Control Center has been inaugurated at the Command headquarters in Baghdad, capable of managing up to 1,000 surveillance cameras. Iraq’s borders currently host 975 thermal cameras, all linked directly to the main center.
The Command added that the center can remotely control cameras—adjusting direction, recording, and data storage—and is supported by dedicated technical units within each border brigade.
Communication systems have also been upgraded, enabling direct links between the headquarters in Baghdad and even the smallest border outposts, ensuring real-time oversight across all frontier areas.