Shafaq News/ The Iraqi Minister of Defense and military leaders arrived in the Western Nineveh Operations Sector in Sinjar, near the Syrian border, the Ministry of Defense announced on Saturday.

The ministry stated that Defense Minister Thabet Al-Abbasi, accompanied by the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, the Joint Operations Commander, and the Ground Forces Commander, arrived today in the sector.

“The visit aims to assess the security situation within the sector and inspect the Iraq-Syria border strip,” the ministry added.

The ministry's statement comes at a sensitive time, with rising security tensions along the Iraqi-Syrian border, especially as armed opposition forces advance in Aleppo.

Earlier today, Al-Abbasi affirmed that the Iraqi armed and security forces, in all their formations and branches, are “ready” to safeguard the country's borders and airspace against any potential threats.