Iraq completes major sections of concrete border wall with Syria

Iraq’s Border Guard Command said on Saturday it has completed key components of an “integrated defensive network” along the country’s borders, including major sections of a fortified concrete wall on the frontier with Syria, as part of ongoing efforts to curb infiltration and smuggling.

The Iraqi Border Guard Command told the Iraqi News Agency (INA) that “construction of fortifications along the Iraqi-Syrian border began in 2022, spanning more than 618 kilometers.” It added that “around 350 kilometers of the concrete security wall have been completed so far, while efforts continue to seal all remaining gaps to prevent infiltration and smuggling.”

It noted that “border fortification does not rely solely on the concrete barrier, but also includes an integrated defensive network consisting of trenches, barbed wire and early-warning systems, in addition to high-resolution thermal cameras and round-the-clock day and night surveillance equipment.”

Border surveillance and fortification measures

The Iraqi Border Guard Command explained that fortification works are also being implemented along the borders with Iran, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Türkiye.

These efforts vary depending on the security threats in each area. It added that along the border with Iran, some areas include trench lines, concertina barriers and BRC fencing.

Fortification efforts continue as required by field conditions. The command also confirmed that Iraq’s borders are currently equipped with 975 thermal cameras. Their live feeds are directly linked to the main control center in Baghdad.

The center can remotely operate the cameras, including direction, recording and data management. Specialized technical units for camera operations have also been established within each border brigade.

The Iraqi Border Guard Command stated on Sept. 15 that the country’s borders are “fully secured and pose no external threat to Iraq,” noting that 99% of the entire border strip is monitored by surveillance cameras, while construction of concrete walls continues.

Iraq shares a 618-kilometer border with Syria, a 335-kilometer border with Türkiye and a 1,420-kilometer border with Iran.

Iraq targets smuggling and Infiltration

Iraq says a recent shift in border security strategy is aimed at curbing infiltration and smuggling after years of vulnerabilities along frontier regions with Syria and Iran.

These measures come after years of border vulnerability that allowed infiltrations and smuggling shipments through unsecured crossings, contributing to rising violence, particularly in areas adjacent to the Syrian and Iranian borders.

Iraqi authorities say the situation has changed fundamentally with the deployment of the new fortification systems, in a clear indication of a shift in state priorities toward securing the borders as a core component of national security.

November 24, 2025 11:49 AM GMT+03:00