







BAGHDAD — Iraq may carry out special forces operations against Islamic State militants in neighbouring Syria to stop them infiltrating back into Iraq, an expert close to the Baghdad government said on Wednesday.
While troops could be dropped into Syria, the plan did not at this stage involve sending ground forces over the border, Hisham al-Hashimi, who advises several governments on Islamic State, including Iraq’s, told Reuters.
Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi declared victory in Iraq over the jihadist group in December, but on Sunday he described the militants’ presence in Syria as a real danger.
With Baghdad on good terms with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, Abadi stressed that any operations would be limited.
“Our plan is to move from fighting terrorism in Iraq in Iraq to fighting terrorism in the region … We are not trespassing over our border or attacking neighbouring countries,” he told a news conference, adding that the plan was being discussed by the Iraqi military leadership.