Iraq, aided by the United States, has been bolstering
security along the border with Syria and has already built 152 of 258 planned forts.
The Iraqi Interior Ministry has trained, equipped and deployed 17,000
border police, many of them along the frontier with Syria. The ministry
plans to deploy more than 28,000 troops by May 2006.
The forces have been equipped with AK-47 rifles, individual body armor
and medium machine guns, Middle East Newsline reported. Units have been transported via small and medium
pick-up trucks as well as mid-size sport utility vehicles.
A Defense Department report said the Iraqi force would be organized into
36 battalions and man 258 border forts around Iraq. As of Sept. 20, 152
forts have been completed, with a total of 250 projected to be reconstructed
or renovated by Nov. 30.
"To stem the flow of foreign fighters from Syria, priority of work in
recent months has been on the Iraqi-Syrian border," the report said. "The
Ninewah and Al Anbar Brigades are each working their way to the Euphrates
River, restoring border control as they progress."
Border units along the Syrian border have been supported by 10-man
Border Transition Teams. The units have been trained in logistics and
communications, and support commanders in intelligence, operations and
budgeting.
The report said the effort to secure the Syrian border has been hampered
by high absent without leave [AWOL] rates. The border forces were also said
to have been infiltrated by insurgents.
"Some areas of the border appear to have a high level of insurgent
infiltration," the report said. "Coalition advisers are assisting Iraqi
Department of Border Enforcement leadership in rectifying these problems."
