U.S. briefs Iraqis on border security

AMARAH, Iraq, Nov. 20 (UPI) -- U.S. military forces in Iraq briefed their Iraqi counterparts on border enforcement at a security conference in eastern Maysan province.

Iraqi security officials met for their first meeting with American military leaders in Maysan province as U.S. officials report heightened criminal activity along the border with Iran, a U.S. military statement said.

Iraqi Maj. Aziz Latief said in October his forces had killed two Iranians in border clashes in Wasit province as reports escalate regarding the activity of the elite Iranian Quds Force in the area. The U.S. military also said in October it had increased the use of biometric scanning devices to vet criminals crossing the Iranian border to Iraq.

"Up to this point, the border patrol, Iraqi police and Iraqi army have done great work in securing the province," said U.S. Col. Philip Battaglia with the 4th Brigade Calvary Team, 1st Calvary Division. "This conference represents a huge step toward synchronizing all those successes to close security gaps and secure the province as a whole."

The U.S. military report said Iraqi forces operating in southern parts of the country have arrested around 200 suspects and seized several munitions caches in border enforcement operations since the summer.