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Shafaq News- Al-Muthanna<\/p>\n
Iraq has formed a new military command to secure
\ndesert areas in Al-Muthanna and Najaf provinces along the Saudi border
\nfollowing the withdrawal of Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) units, a security
\nsource told Shafaq News on Saturday.<\/p>\n
Led by Maj. Gen. Emad Al-Maliki, the Badia Operations
\nCommand comprises three brigades covering Al-Salman and Busayyah in Al-Muthanna
\nand Al-Shabaka in neighboring Najaf, the source said, noting that troops will
\nbe backed by armed aircraft and reconnaissance flights and protect the road to
\nthe Al-Jamima border crossing, which remains under construction. Local security
\nagencies will fall under the new structure.<\/p>\n
The command has already taken over Al-Qarya Al-Asriya
\nin Al-Salman following the PMF withdrawal.<\/p>\n
Read more: Iraq under regional pressure as neighbors threaten to strike Iran-aligned factions<\/a><\/p>\n Al-Jamima is being developed as Iraq\u2019s second major The reorganization comes after Riyadh accused armed Security contacts between Baghdad and Riyadh have
\nland link with Saudi Arabia, alongside the operational Arar crossing in
\nwestern Al-Anbar province. Baghdad allocated<\/a> 200 billion dinars ($152M) for the
\ncrossing, the Samawah\u2013Jamima road, and related infrastructure.<\/p>\n
\nfactions of launching drones from Iraq against the Kingdom in July. Joint
\nUS-Saudi strikes later hit PMF positions, killing at least 20 members and
\nwounding 32, according to the PMF, a state-backed umbrella of predominantly
\nShiite armed factions. Baghdad condemned the strikes as a violation of its
\nsovereignty and pledged to prevent attacks on neighboring countries from Iraqi
\nterritory. <\/p>\n
\nsince intensified<\/a>, with officials from Iraq and Saudi Arabia meeting<\/a> US Central
\nCommand representatives in Riyadh on Thursday to discuss armed factions and
\nmeasures to prevent further cross-border attacks.<\/p>\n