Al-walid: The head of the Border Ports Authority, Lieutenant General Omar Adnan Al-Waeli, conducted an inspection of the Al-Walid border crossing following an incident where Syrian authorities foiled a smuggling attempt involving an oil tanker headed for Banias.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, Al-Waeli assessed the existing security and technical procedures at the crossing. He directed that responsibilities be clearly defined to facilitate legal actions against those found negligent or involved in the smuggling attempt. Al-Waeli emphasized the importance of heightened vigilance and enhanced intelligence and technical efforts, asserting that smuggling attempts or any violations compromising Iraq's security would not be tolerated.

Al-Waeli highlighted the necessity of boosting coordination with Syrian counterparts through liaison officers to effectively prevent smuggling activities and to hold accountable those responsible. He noted that the crossing accommodates the passage of approximately two thousand tankers daily, underscoring the significance of stringent security measures.