Al-Sudani stresses need to hold borders, hand over cities file to police

BAGHDAD, Dec. 05 (YPA) – Spokesperson for the Commander-in-Chief of the Iraqi Armed Forces, Major General Yehia Rasool, announced on Sunday, directives to hold the zero line, while indicating that the cities file would be handed over to the police, the Iraqi News Agency (INA) reported.

Rasool said in a press conference: “The Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Muhammad Shia’ al-Sudani, stressed during the security ministerial meeting the need to hold the borders from the Border Guard forces and hold the zero line with the two neighbors, Iran and Turkey,” pointing to “the importance of Strengthening the leadership of the border guard forces with weapons, equipment and people to ensure that the borders are well maintained.”

He stressed, “Iraq refuses to use its land to attack any neighboring country,” pointing out: “We have good relations with all neighboring countries and we seek to develop them in a way that serves the interests of the parties, with the need to respect Iraq’s sovereignty.”

Regarding handing over the cities file to the police, Rasool stressed that “the directives that were issued include that the Iraqi police forces should maintain security within cities,” pointing out that “the Ministry of Interior is capable of maintaining security and has all the joints through which it can maintain internal security in cities.”

He indicated that “the army must leave the cities and be in its own camps for reorganization, as its duty is to defend Iraq in the event of any threat on its lands,” noting that “the steps are taking place carefully and the process of replacing some sectors of the army with police forces has begun

Rasool stated that “internal security is one of the priorities of the Ministry of the Interior,” explaining that “the country is witnessing security and stability, and this came with great sacrifices made by the Iraqi people.”

E.M