Peregraf - Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ Al-Sudani said Iraq’s leadership had conducted an early assessment of potential regional developments, prompting the government to implement unprecedented border protection measures and proactive security plans to safeguard the country from escalating threats.
Al-Sudani made the remarks during a meeting on Friday with the Commander of the United States Central Command (CENTCOM), Admiral Brad Cooper, where both sides discussed the deteriorating security situation in Syria—particularly in areas surrounding detention facilities holding ISIS members, which face ongoing threats of breach and mass escapes.
According to the Prime Minister, Iraq has, for the first time, carried out large-scale fortification measures along its borders as part of early protection plans. These steps are aimed at preventing security spillovers into Iraqi territory amid instability in neighboring countries.
He also emphasized the government’s efforts to return the largest possible number of Iraqi families from certain camps, alongside continued political and security coordination with relevant regional parties, as part of a broader strategy to enhance internal stability and reduce long-term security risks.
The meeting underscored the importance of sustained coordination between Iraqi security and military leaderships and the International Coalition forces, including task-sharing based on defined timelines and the provision of logistical, administrative, and technical support to ensure secure and coordinated operations.
Prime Minister Al-Sudani commended Admiral Cooper for his role in completing the procedures to end the International Coalition’s mission in Iraq and for overseeing the handover of Ayn Al-Asad Air Base to Iraqi forces. He also praised the Coalition’s support to Iraq in its fight against terrorism and ISIS.
For his part, Admiral Cooper praised Iraq’s role within the International Coalition and expressed gratitude, on behalf of the Coalition and the international community, for Iraq’s decision to receive ISIS detainees. He affirmed CENTCOM’s readiness to continue providing logistical and technical support and to maintain high-level cooperation with Baghdad.
The meeting comes amid heightened regional tensions and growing concerns over ISIS remnants seeking to exploit instability in Syria to reconstitute their networks.