Iraqi Popular Mobilization Forces deployed 13 brigades to the Syrian border, however in a statement released on Saturday, the Iraqi military denounced rumors that the brigades were sent to support Iraqi border guard forces who were rumoured to have been involved in a gunfire attack this past Tuesday.

The circulating rumors mentioned that the gunfire attack on the border guards came from within Syria, which is why more backup brigades were sent.

There were also speculations that ISIS was responsible for the attack, however in the joint statement, the Iraqi military stressed that ISIS is only in control of the northern part of lake Euphrates in Syria, and that skirmishes happen from time to time.

In a statement to the commander of the western Anbar axis, Qasim Musleh, a military official had said early Saturday, "after several Iraqi border checkpoints were attacked causing many guards to be injured by guided missiles and delayed support from the security forces, 13 Popular Mobilization brigades were sent and have started to target the sources of the rockets."