Kingdom’s border with Iraq ‘completely secure’ — officials

AMMAN — Jordan's Karama border crossing with Iraq is still open with disruption only on the Iraqi side, authorities said on Saturday, stressing that the border is under full control from the Jordanian side.

The Daesh terrorist organisation claimed an attack Saturday by French, Belgian and Senegalese suicide bombers on the border that Iraqi officials said killed at least four Iraqi security personnel, according to Agence France-Presse.

The Jordan News Agency, Petra, quoted sources as saying that the security incidents that occurred in western Iraq's Treibil region recently have caused technical problems at the eastern neighbour's border crossing with Jordan, thus causing disruptions to cargo and passenger flow into the Kingdom.

In cooperation with Iraqi authorities, eight injured Iraqis have been transferred to Al Karama Healthcare Centre and two others to the Rweished Hospital on the Jordanian side of the border, Petra said.

Petra also quoted officials as affirming that the 180km Iraq border is “completely secure”.

Daesh claimed the assault in a statement posted online, saying the bombers were from France, Belgium and Senegal, AFP reported.
It said the bombers targeted the main checkpoint at the crossing, a mess hall, sleeping quarters for security personnel and an army patrol.

The bombers detonated explosive-rigged vehicles, one of them a lorry, at checkpoints on the Iraqi side of the Treibil crossing, said Sabah Karhout, the head of the Anbar province council.

He put the toll at four dead and eight wounded.

The deputy head of the crossing, Khaled Alwan, and army Colonel Jabr Khailan, both confirmed the attack but gave higher tolls.