Popular Mobilization Forces and Iraqi Interior Ministry Deny Fighters' Crossing into Syria
Iraqi authorities' denial of fighters entering Syria reveals the sensitivity of Iraq's position towards the escalating Syrian crisis
December 2, 2024, 7:14 pm

Popular Mobilization Forces and Iraqi Interior Ministry Deny Fighters' Crossing into Syria

الحشد الشعبي

Statements by military sources in the Syrian regime army regarding Iraqi factions entering Syria have captured the attention of Iraqi authorities, with the Interior Ministry quickly denying the matter.

Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) Chairman Faleh al-Fayyad categorically denied through a statement today, Monday, the PMF's entry into Syria, stating that the PMF does not operate outside Iraq. He explained that instructions from the Commander-in-Chief of the Iraqi Armed Forces, Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, included intensifying presence and reinforcing units on the fronts.

He added that events in Syria directly affect Iraqi national security. Iraqi Interior Ministry spokesman Miqdad Miri, during a press conference, considered news about armed factions crossing Iraqi borders and entering Syria as mere "rhetorical talk."

He emphasized that this talk "is being circulated on Facebook," stressing that "there is no recorded movement at the borders." He indicated that border breaches are absolutely impossible due to fortifications and deployed military units.

He stressed that the borders with Syria are more fortified than other borders with neighboring countries, pointing to the deployment of two divisions from the Border Forces Command, plus support from the army and PMF.

This contradicts reports from two sources in the Syrian regime army about elements from Iranian-backed Iraqi factions entering Syria last night from Iraq, heading toward northern Syria to support regime forces against armed factions.

Reuters quoted a senior source in the Syrian regime army saying that dozens of PMF elements crossed the border from Iraq to Syria via a military road near the Al-Bukamal crossing.

He explained that the fighters belong to factions including Iraqi Hezbollah Battalions and the Fatemiyoun Brigade. Syrian Observatory for Human Rights director Rami Abdulrahman told Al-Arabiya/Al-Hadath that about 200 PMF elements crossed from Iraq and headed toward the Syrian desert.

It's worth noting that Tehran has sent thousands of fighters to Syrian territory over the past years, contributing along with Russia's air forces in enabling Syrian regime president Bashar al-Assad to recover most territories controlled by armed factions and ISIS.

The Iranian Foreign Ministry earlier renewed confirmation of its military advisers remaining in Syria at the regime's request, and Tehran has repeatedly expressed over the past two days its support for the Syrian regime army in repelling attacks by armed factions that seized Aleppo.

Hayat Tahrir al-Sham and allied armed factions have carried out an unexpected attack on Aleppo since last Wednesday, taking control of the entire city, the country's second-largest.

They seized Aleppo International Airport and tightened their grip on dozens of towns in rural Hama and Idlib. The Syrian regime army announced it has begun preparing a counter-attack to expel militants from areas they controlled.

Levant-Agencies

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BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
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Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”