A government source said a national security crisis unit has been formed to monitor developments in Syria.

Iraqi government sources told local media the establishment of the cell is due to the security situation on the Iraqi-Syrian border, in addition to the presence of armed groups that control some cities near the border.

It added that the cell includes Defense Minister Sabbath Mohammed Abbas, Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein, Intelligence Chief Hamid Shatri, Siyada Coalition Leader Khamis Khanjar, and Iraqi Affairs Chief Yassin Hujaimi in Damascus. The cell operates under the direct supervision of Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Sudani.

It also mentioned the formation of the cell was in response to several factors, most notably the common border between Iraq and Syria, which is more than 600 kilometers, as well as the existing security threats, especially illegal immigration and smuggling.

It also stated that "Both Iraq and Syria are facing complex internal conflicts, such as the Sunni-Shiite conflict in Iraq and the internal crisis in Syria, which opens the door to foreign intervention and exploitation of these situations by regional and foreign countries.

Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein and his Syrian counterpart, Asad Shaibani, who visited Baghdad on March 14, discussed common security challenges; Hussein said a five-member operations room would be formed soon to confront the militant group.