Iraqi Ministry Denies Arms Smuggling Allegations, Highlights Security Coordination

The ministry stated in a statement carried by the Iraqi News Agency (INA) that it “followed up on the recently raised false allegations in a television program on one of the satellite channels regarding the existence of arms smuggling operations,” emphasizing that “these claims are not based on any realistic evidence.” The ministry pointed out that the relevant security agencies “did not record any infiltration or smuggling cases from the Syrian border throughout the past period,” calling on the concerned institutions to “coordinate in advance to organize field visits to any of the border sections to observe the level of security readiness and stability achieved thanks to the efforts of the border forces.” Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani affirmed today, Tuesday, that his government “will not allow any individual or entity to use Iraq as a base for military operations,” as he put it. Al-Sudani said in a press statement: “We know that the Israeli government has adopted and continues to adopt a policy of expanding the scope of war in the region. Therefore, we were keen not to give any justification for any party to target Iraq or drag it into war,” adding that his government “also communicated with the leaders in Iran to urge them to calm down and allow space for dialogue and a return to negotiations.” Regarding Syria, al-Sudani stated that his government coordinates with, especially on security issues, saying: “We and the Syrian administration certainly have a common enemy, which is the terrorist ISIS (a group banned in Russia and several countries), which is clearly and openly present inside Syria.” Al-Sudani added that his government “warned the Syrians of the mistakes that occurred in Iraq after the fall of Saddam Hussein, when the security vacuum that followed led to years of sectarian violence and the rise of armed extremist groups,” urging the current Syrian leadership to strive for “a comprehensive political process that includes all components and sects.” The Iraqi Prime Minister said: “We do not want the division of Syria. This is unacceptable, and certainly, we do not want any foreign presence on Syrian soil,” in a clear reference to Israeli incursions in southern Syria.