The Border Forces Command of Iraq's Ministry of Interior announced Monday the implementation of measures to reduce the presence of Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) elements along the Iraqi-Iranian border, alongside a broader plan to secure the Iraqi-Turkish border.
 
Lieutenant General Mohammed Sakar Al-Saidi, Commander of the Border Forces, told Iraqi state media that Iraq's border fortification measures vary by country, depending on several factors, including security, proximity of border villages, engineering and electronic measures, economic disparities, and regional topography.
 
Al-Saidi highlighted that Iraq shares over 3,714 kilometers of borders with six neighboring countries, with the longest being the 1,493-kilometer border with Iran.
 
Significant efforts have been made over the past two years to enhance security along the Iraqi-Iranian border, including the construction of 91 border posts and the deployment of thermal cameras and inflatable barriers.
 
"Our measures have led to daily interceptions of illegal workers from Asia, Pakistan, and Afghanistan," Al-Saidi said.

Efforts to reduce the PKK presence include relocating Iranian opposition groups away from the border at Iran's request.
 
Units from the Second Brigade have taken control of previously unpatrolled points in Erbil province.
 
"The Iranian opposition no longer has any presence near the border strip between Iraq and Iran," he asserted.
 
Regarding the Turkish border, Saidi stated that Iraq has a 362-kilometer border with Turkey, characterized by rugged terrain and snow cover for half of the year.
 
Historically, Iraq had no posts along this border, leading to outlaw activity. Recent efforts include establishing a joint coordination center with Turkey and constructing over 27 border posts.
 
Despite Turkish incursions into Iraqi territory, Saidi expressed hope for significant bilateral understanding.
 
The Border Forces Command is the only federal authority on the Iraqi border within the Kurdistan Region, and contact with Turkish units is ongoing.
 
"We are seeking to build our fortifications on the Iraqi zero line and control the border to prevent any threat towards Turkey, but this requires effort and financial allocations," he noted.
 
After a high-level delegation from the Turkish government visited Baghdad in March, Baghdad announced that they have officially categorized the PKK as a threat to its security and classified it as a banned group in the country.

The PKK is an armed group that has fought for increased Kurdish rights in Turkey for decades, the group, designated as a terrorist organization by Ankara, uses mountainous areas of the Kurdistan Region as shelter and often engages in direct armed conflict with Turkey.
 
Turkey has on several occasions carried out aerial strikes claiming to be targeting the group’s positions in the Kurdistan Region, and have caused civilian casualties multiple times, despite Ankara’s denial.
 
In August 2023, Iran and Iraq agreed to disarm and relocate exiled Iranian opposition groups in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.
 
Iran set a deadline of September 19, 2023, for Iraq to fulfill this commitment, warning of potential action if the deadline is not met.
 
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Nasser Kanani emphasized the deadline and the security threat posed by these Kurdish militants, whom Iran accuses of instigating unrest.
 
These groups, labeled as "terrorist" by Tehran, are based in camps within the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.
 
Iraq's Interior Ministry, in coordination with Kurdish authorities, deployed a brigade to the Iranian border and allocated $7 million for new border posts.