The Iraqi troops have been relocated from Ramadi to Qaim in the western province of Anbar. Officials said more than 100 armored vehicles have arrived in Qaim to prepare for the deployment of four brigades from the Emergency Regiment. The Iraq Army and border force plans to reinforce patrols along the 600-kilometer Iraqi-Syrian border. Officials said troop concentrations were planned in Baghuz and Rumanah.

"We can build on every five kilometers some points to watch," Iraqi Deputy Chief of Staff Gen. Nasier Abadi said. "But we cannot build a line because this is very costly and it takes a long time to build."

Officials said the U.S. Army has not contributed troops to the Syrian border operation. But they said U.S. units were helping in logistics as well as patrols until the Iraqi deployment was completed.

Abadi said Iraq would seek to increase border cooperation with Syria. Regardless, the general said Baghdad expected infiltration to continue from Syria.

"The control of borders is a very difficult task, and I do not think that a state, with capabilities like that of the U.S., their borders with Mexico, with all this technology, there are still violations," Abadi said.

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