Kuwait places police and military unit on high alert amid ISIL threat

There are fears the militants could cross over from Iraq

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Kuwait has placed its police and a small military unit on high alert to protect the country's borders against ISIL militants potentially coming from Iraq, local media reports said on Sunday.

It comes as the extremists are close to defeat in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul.

The Kuwaiti ministry of interior implemented the security measures on Saturday following warnings from the Iraqi government.

Airport security staff and police guarding vital interests have been told to use aggression against any threats, according to Al Anbaa news, while a small military unit known as Mubarak's Force has been deployed in the north of the country to help protect the border with Iraq.

Deputy minister of interior Mahmood Al Doosari said Kuwait was also working with the rest of the GCC to increase regional security and prevent the militants from breaching Kuwaiti borders.