On Wednesday, July 9, 2025, an extensive coordination meeting was held at the headquarters of the General Company for Ports of Iraq. The meeting brought together Eng. Dr. Farhan Al-Fartousi, Director General of the General Company for Ports of Iraq; Major General Nawfal H. Fuaad, Commander of the Border Guard Forces; and Brigadier General Wael A. Sahein, Deputy Commander of the Naval Forces—alongside specialized technical teams from all three entities. The purpose of the meeting was to develop an integrated strategy to strengthen the protection of maritime navigation and supervise Iraq’s territorial waters and the Khor Abdullah Channel.
This meeting falls within the framework of enhancing security and professional integration between maritime and military institutions, and aims to establish the highest levels of coordination to protect critical waterways that form the backbone of maritime transport and trade in Iraq.
Dr. Al-Fartousi emphasized that “Securing navigation in the Khor Abdullah Channel and Iraqi territorial waters is no longer merely a technical or administrative task—it is a national duty directly tied to Iraq’s maritime sovereignty and is a foundational step in ensuring navigational safety and promoting commercial activity.”
He added, “Today, we discussed with our partners in the Border Guard and Naval Forces the practical and coordination mechanisms to be implemented on the ground—including the distribution of responsibilities, the enhancement of surveillance, and the modernization of technical infrastructure that will contribute to monitoring and protecting this vital channel.”
The meeting covered detailed discussions on security and monitoring operations, the development of a joint action plan for regular naval patrols, installation of advanced surveillance systems, and protocols for rapid response in emergency situations. Additionally, it addressed technical and administrative challenges faced by the involved authorities.
The meeting concluded with a reaffirmation of the importance of continuing joint field meetings and activating maritime command and control centers to ensure the protection of Iraq’s maritime borders and safeguard its strategic interests in the Arabian Gulf.
