Iraq: Syria failing to stem flow of militants

THE Iraqi government said yesterday that half the Sunni Muslim militants behind the bombings shaking the country had arrived through neighbouring Syria.

The United States and Iraqi officials have long accused Iraq’s neighbours, particularly Syria and Iran, of failing to stop Islamic militants from crossing into Iraq to carry out attacks.

US and Iraqi officials say many of the insurgents responsible for the violence are not Iraqis.

“We have confirmation that 50% of these takfiris and killers who call themselves Arab jihadists come across the Syrian border,” Iraqi government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh told Al Arabiya TV, referring to radical Sunnis whose ideology brands some Muslims as infidels and allows their killing.

“Syria closes its eyes. As we have said before and we say again today, we are facing a bloody and painful day for us in Iraq as a result of Syria’s lack of seriousness in controlling the border.”

Syria said it was doing its best to control its border with Iraq.

“The Syrian regime has strong intelligence (agencies) and no bird can fly over the Golan Heights, but when it comes to ... the Iraqi side they say they do not have the equipment or don’t have this or that,” Mr al-Dabbagh said.