Iraqi Border Forces Enter Penjwen Area, Deny Infiltration Claims as Iran War Enters Eighth Day

Peregraf – Iraqi border guard forces moved into areas along the frontier near the Penjwen district on Saturday, as Baghdad sought to reinforce security along the border with Iran amid heightened regional tensions. 

Lieutenant General Muhammad Sukkar, commander of the Iraqi Border Forces, said the deployment is part of ongoing efforts to ensure full control over the frontier and prevent any cross-border incidents.

Speaking to the Iraqi News Agency (INA), Sukkar stressed that Iraq’s borders with neighboring countries are under tight security and denied circulating claims about infiltration or smuggling across the frontier.

“The borders with all neighboring countries are fully secured; there is no infiltration or smuggling,” Sukkar said.

The move comes as the war between Israel and Iran enters its eighth day, increasing concerns about possible spillover effects in border regions, particularly in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. 

Coordination with Kurdistan Forces

Sukkar emphasized that Iraqi federal forces are working closely with local security forces in the Kurdistan Region to maintain stability along the sensitive border strip.

“There is ongoing coordination with the Peshmerga and Asayish forces to secure the borders with Iran,” he said, referring to the security and intelligence services of the Kurdistan Region.

The commander also dismissed reports suggesting that armed groups or individuals had crossed from Iraqi territory into Iran during the current escalation.

“Rumors regarding cases of infiltration from Iraq into Iran are incorrect,” Sukkar stated.

According to him, Iraqi border units maintain regular communication with their Iranian counterparts to prevent misunderstandings and maintain security along the frontier.

“There is continuous coordination and communication between Iraqi border brigade commanders and their Iranian counterparts,” he added.

Border Turned into Security Zone

Sukkar further noted that the level of military deployment along the border has significantly increased, turning the area into what he described as a “tight security zone.”

“The scale of the Iraqi military presence has turned the border strip into a tight security zone,” he said.

The reinforced measures come at a time when Iranian officials have repeatedly expressed concerns about Kurdish opposition groups operating from bases inside the Kurdistan Region near the Iranian border.

Tehran has previously accused several Kurdish armed opposition movements of launching activities against Iranian territory from northern Iraq — allegations that both Baghdad and the Kurdistan Regional Government have sought to address through security agreements and border deployments.

Rising Regional Tensions

The latest developments occur as regional tensions remain high following the escalation of hostilities between Israel and Iran. The conflict has raised fears across Iraq that the country could be drawn into broader regional confrontation, particularly given the presence of Iran-aligned armed groups and foreign military forces.

Authorities in both Baghdad and the Kurdistan Region have recently emphasized the importance of preventing Iraqi territory from being used as a launching point for attacks against neighboring countries, while also strengthening border security.

With the conflict entering its eighth day, security forces appear to be moving to ensure that the mountainous frontier near Penjwen — one of the most sensitive stretches of the Iraq-Iran border — remains under firm control and insulated from the wider regional crisis.