IRAQ RACES TO SEAL SYRIA BORDER: 350KM WALL, THERMAL TOWERS TO BLOCK CROSS-BORDER INFILTRATION

Iraq is accelerating construction of a fortified barrier along its 600km border with Syria, completing about 350km since 2022. The multilayered system includes a concrete wall, trenches, berms, barbed wire, inflatable barriers, and observation towers equipped with thermal cameras for 24/7 monitoring. Baghdad aims to curb ISIS remnants, smuggling, and movements of Iran-backed militias; analysts say the project could undercut Tehran’s regional reach and affect Kurdish cross-border ties. The push reflects a wider regional trend of hardened borders and tech-heavy surveillance.