Jordanians watching border for ISIS

THNEIBEH, Jordan — Jordan is deploying more forces to face a growing threat to its borders as Islamic State extremists in neighboring Iraq and Syria are being dislodged from some strongholds, the commander of the kingdom’s border guard said Thursday.

The Islamic State group, which seized large parts of Iraq and Syria in 2014, is under intense military pressure in both countries and has lost significant territory in recent months. U. S.- backed Iraqi forces recently announced the recapture of the eastern side of Mosul, the northern city where they have been waging a 3- month- old offensive.

Brig. Gen. Sami Kafawin, commander of Jordan’s border forces, said he expects some of the retreating Islamic State fighters to make their way to southern Syria, close to Jordan.

Islamic State- affiliated groups already hold positions in southern Syria, some a few hundred yards from the border, the commander said ahead of a tour of military positions along the westernmost stretch of Jordan’s border with Syria.