Middle East Politics.Net » border http://middleeastpolitics.net Facts, News, Trends, Analysis Tue, 12 Jan 2010 20:56:32 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 Iraq Deploys More Police Along Syrian Border http://middleeastpolitics.net/2008/11/05/iraq-deploys-more-police-along-syrian-border/ http://middleeastpolitics.net/2008/11/05/iraq-deploys-more-police-along-syrian-border/#comments Thu, 06 Nov 2008 05:18:32 +0000 Joshua Bark http://middleeastpolitics.net/?p=2045 At least 500 Iraqi police have been moved near the Syrian border.  The recent raid inside Syrian borders by U.S. drones has caused a huge backlash within Syria, including a reduction of Syrian troops along the border to stop smuggling and other cross-border activities.

Iraq now seems to be bearing much of the material costs of the unauthorized U.S. raid inside Syria’s borders–the U.S. is of course paying a diplomatic price for the raid.  Some inside the U.S. hope that a new administration will erase much of the diplomatic damage done between the countries.

It is not clear how much Iraq-U.S. relations have been tested by this new agreement.  Iraq clearly feels Syria’s troop reduction constitutes a security threat to their country, and U.S.-Syrian relations are having some measurable costs on Iraq.  Future security agreements (or amendments thereof) may include discussion of the cost of the decision to cross the border.  Or, perhaps the Iraqi government was complicit, feeling that the raid was in their best interest.  If it is the latter, look for more tension between Syria and Iraq.

Joshua Bark

]]> http://middleeastpolitics.net/2008/11/05/iraq-deploys-more-police-along-syrian-border/feed/ 0 Syria to Increase Border Troops near Lebanon, Pull Back Near Iraq http://middleeastpolitics.net/2008/10/30/syria-to-increase-border-troops-near-lebanon-pull-back-near-iraq/ http://middleeastpolitics.net/2008/10/30/syria-to-increase-border-troops-near-lebanon-pull-back-near-iraq/#comments Fri, 31 Oct 2008 03:14:26 +0000 Joshua Bark http://middleeastpolitics.net/?p=1897 Witnesses in Lebanon are already confirming a troop build-up on the border with Syria, in a move that the two countries say they hope will reduce illegal border-crossing.  At the same time, initial reports seem to confirm that Syria is removing some of the additional troops it had put on the border with Iraq towards the same end (and in cooperation with the Iraqis and the U.S.).

Anti-Syrian politicians in Lebanon are suspicious of the build-up, which they say may be preparation for another incursion.  However, recent attacks on Lebanese soldiers in the fragile country has others happy for the increased security the troops are supposed to bring.

Meanwhile, the troops leaving the Iraqi border is a response to the recent alleged U.S. invasion of Lebanese airspace (and subsequent bombing inside the borders).  Interestingly, the Iraqi government condemned the U.S. action, but Syria’s recent moves have hurt Iraqi as well as U.S. security interests through its pull-back.

The timing of the two moves is coincidental, but not necessarily related.  Perhaps some statements in the following days will shed some light on whether the two border movements are related, but clearly the move to Lebanon’s border would seem to bolster the fact that Syria agrees (officially) border troops do increase security against smuggling and transnational terrorist movements.

Joshua Bark

]]> http://middleeastpolitics.net/2008/10/30/syria-to-increase-border-troops-near-lebanon-pull-back-near-iraq/feed/ 0 U.S. Cross-Border Strike Prompts Protests in Syria http://middleeastpolitics.net/2008/10/30/us-cross-border-strike-prompts-protests-in-syria/ http://middleeastpolitics.net/2008/10/30/us-cross-border-strike-prompts-protests-in-syria/#comments Thu, 30 Oct 2008 19:49:38 +0000 Joshua Bark http://middleeastpolitics.net/?p=1888 The political situation in Syria has intensified as the Syrian government has apparently staged a protest a few blocks away from the U.S. Embassy in Damascus.  It was carried on the state-sponsored news agency in Syria (SANA), and ended peacefully.

Whether or not the protest was staged, pressure appears to be ratcheting up on the U.S. government to apologize for the recent cross-border incursion.  The Syrian government reportedly formed a protective border around the now-closed U.S. Embassy, but the closed U.S. school and cultural center in Syria points to a palpable tension in a country that has recently chilled relations with the West, especially the United States.

Joshua Bark

]]> http://middleeastpolitics.net/2008/10/30/us-cross-border-strike-prompts-protests-in-syria/feed/ 0 Syria Calls for Cooperation in Securing Lebanese Border http://middleeastpolitics.net/2008/10/01/syria-calls-for-cooperation-in-securing-lebanese-border/ http://middleeastpolitics.net/2008/10/01/syria-calls-for-cooperation-in-securing-lebanese-border/#comments Thu, 02 Oct 2008 05:36:44 +0000 sdemetri http://middleeastpolitics.net/?p=1117 Syria’s Foreign Minister, Walid al-Moualem, has called on Lebanon to cooperate in securing their nations’ border. Moualem declared that “The question of the border between Syria and Lebanon needs two actions: delineation (of the frontier) and Syrian-Lebanese security cooperation,” adding that at present “Nobody can control the border with Lebanon.” Border security has long been an issue with little progress, although both nations have agreed to resume work on the issue in compliance with a 2006 UN resolution. The issue’s prominence has surged recently as a result of mounting tension and growing concern of violence and Islamic militancy in the north of Lebanon, as well as an ongoing smuggling trade across the permeable border. Last week, ostensibly in response to these concerns, Syria deployed hundreds of troops to the area. Critics warn, however, that security concerns may serve as a convenient pretext for further intervention.

Stefanie Demetriades

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