Iraq delays opening of border crossing with Syria following overnight strike — source

Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) – Iraqi authorities decided to postpone the opening of a border crossing with Syria until further notice following an overnight attack on Iraqi militias in the Syrian side, a security source said.

“The aerial bombardment that targeted Iraqi militiamen in the Syrian town of Albu Kamal will delay the inauguration of Al Qae’m border crossing, which was scheduled to be opened today or Tuesday,” the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told RT channel.

“It’s unclear when the border crossing would be opened,” the source added.

Warplanes have struck positions of Iran-backed militias near Syria’s border with Iraq, activists told BBC.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK-based monitoring group, said at least 18 Iranian and pro-Iranian fighters were killed.

It was not clear who carried out the overnight strikes in and around the town of Albu Kamal.

But Israel has carried out hundreds of attacks on Iranian-linked targets in Syria during the country’s civil war.

It has sought to thwart what it calls Iran’s “military entrenchment” in Syria and shipments of Iranian weapons to militant groups such as Hezbollah in Lebanon.