Iraq city fortifying border to prevent ISIL infiltration

Najaf, the capital of a province of the same name, is home to the shrine of one of the most revered figures in Islam, Imam Ali (AS).
 
The province shares tens of kilometers of borders with Saudi Arabia and the Anbar province. At least one attempt by ISIL terrorists has been recorded over the past few months to infiltrate the holy city.
 
“We have foiled at least two or three attempts and have arrested a number of ISIL militants, who were either trying to smuggle logistic support or arms through Najaf,” said Khaled Shannoun of al-Mustafa Brigades, the Popular Mobilization Unit currently tasked with guarding Najaf's borders.
 
Commanders in the area said ISIL’s propaganda machine would most definitely portray even the most trivial assault on Najaf as a "strategic victory.”
 
“We have three regiments distributed in posts along the borders of Najaf. Each post is one kilometer from the next. We are countering many cases of infiltrators’ trying to smuggle arms or cars into Najaf as well as militants, who come here on reconnaissance trips as well,” said Naeen Saoud (shown below) of al-Mustafa Brigades.
 
The northern and western parts of Iraq have been in chaos since ISIL started its campaign of terror in early June 2014. The terrorists have swept through parts of the country.
 
Since the onset of ISIL’s terror campaign, Iraq’s army has been joined by Kurdish forces, and Shia and Sunni volunteers in operations to drive the terrorists out of the areas they have seized.