The Badia Operations Command was established earlier this month to oversee security in the vast desert areas of southern and western Iraq, including territory bordering Saudi Arabia.
“The deployment of this command is to ensure the protection of the country’s southern and western borders and prevent any attempt to target neighboring countries," Yahya Rasool, spokesperson for Iraq’s defense ministry, told Rudaw's Malik Mohammed on Saturday.
According to Rasool, the command will be based in the Nugrat al-Salman area of Muthanna province, deep in the Samawa desert. The area is part of al-Salman district and lies around 80 kilometers from the Saudi border.
The command was formed by an August 9 government order aimed at strengthening security and coordination among Iraqi forces operating in the Muthanna desert and surrounding areas.
Its establishment comes amid heightened tensions after Saudi Arabia and the United States carried out strikes against Iran-aligned militia targets in Iraq on July 29.
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