Shafaq News- Baghdad
Iraq's Joint Operations Command (JOC) established onThursday a high-level committee to investigate a foiled attempt to smuggleweapons and missiles across the Iraqi border into Syria.
The committee was established under the direction of the Commander-in-Chiefof the Armed Forces and Prime Minister Ali Al-Zaidi and includes representativesfrom relevant government agencies and specialists tasked with examining thecircumstances surrounding the attempted smuggling operation.
“Iraqi authorities will coordinate with their Syriancounterparts to determine all details related to the incident and hold thoseresponsible accountable,” JOC said, adding that the measures “aim to safeguardsecurity along the shared border and prevent any attempts to undermine nationalsecurity.”
Earlier on Thursday, Syria's General Authority for BorderCrossings and Customs intercepted a large shipment of drones and missiles atthe Al-Tanf border crossing. According to the agency, the weapons werecarefully concealed inside an oil tanker heading to the coastal city ofBaniyas.
The state-run Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) cited the InteriorMinistry as saying preliminary investigations indicated that the cargo wasdestined to pass through Syria en route to Lebanon's Hezbollah.
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