WASHINGTON, March 24: Iraqi security forces will assume responsibility for securing the country’s borders by July as part of a shift in the US military role, a senior commander said on Friday.

“There’s 3,631 kilometres of borders,” said Lt Gen Martin Dempsey. “And by this summer — July — Iraq security forces will be responsible for security along that entire front.”

A Pentagon spokesman said Iraqi security forces already were in charge of much of the border and the hand-over was nearing completion.

—AFP