Iraqi forces have thwarted an attempt by several "Islamic State of Iraq and Syria" (ISIS) militants to enter Iraq from Syria, an Iraqi military official in Anbar province said Tuesday (February 26th).
"Seven ISIS militants believed to be fleeing the battles in Syria’s al-Baghouz tried to enter Iraq last night, but were repelled and forced to return [to Syria]," Col. Mazen Hussein al-Obeidi of al-Badiya and al-Jazeera Operations Command said.
Fleeing ISIS members are attempting to cross the border to hide in rough terrain areas in Iraq's western desert, he said, noting that "this is precisely what Iraqi forces are trying to prevent".
The international coalition has recently supplied Iraqi forces with sophisticated sensors and thermal cameras, which help uncover infiltration attempts across the border, al-Obeidi said.
