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Iraq bulks up border presence as IS escapees try to enter

Iraqi forces have sent reinforcements to the border area and are engaging in nightly artillery strikes on IS positions in eastern Syria ahead of an expected US pullout in the near future.
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As the battle for a few square miles of Islamic State (IS) territory left on the Syrian side of Baghouz continues, Iraqi security forces have stepped up their border presence to prevent infiltration.

Attempts to seal the border have taken on critical importance after reports that the United States plans to pull its troops out of eastern Syria by April.

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