Syria: We’re thwarting militants along Iraq border
(CNN) — Syrian commanders say their troops along the border with Iraq are making strides in nabbing militants intent on staging suicide attacks in Baghdad.
But, the commanders say, they could do a better job if they were able to obtain modern equipment denied to them because of sanctions and if they received cooperation from the U.S. military.
The commanders also say U.S. aircraft occasionally violate Syria’s airspace, a situation that points to the lack of coordination between the countries.
We work within our abilities, said Gen. Khaklil Al-Khaled, a provincial military commander in northeastern Syria. The border constitutes a daily obsession to us, to prevent infiltration and confront the contraband groups and jihadist groups that infiltrate the border.
Syrian commanders were interviewed by CNN along the border, where Syria and the United States have a complicated relationship.
The Syrian government began limited cooperation with the United States in the global war against terrorism after the September 11, 2001, attacks, the U.S. State Department has said.
The United States has long criticized Syria for being a staging ground for insurgents who infiltrate Iraq in the Euphrates River valley of Anbar province and conduct attacks in the towns along that waterway and in Baghdad.
