ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani made his first visit to Baghdad on Friday, weeks after delaying the trip for unknown reasons that made many question the Iraqi government’s efforts to build ties with the new administration in Damascus.
Shaibani and Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein held a joint press conference in Baghdad where the Iraqi minister noted they face common threats.
“The current threats to the Syrian and Iraqi communities are mutual. These are challenges the Syrian and Iraqi communities are facing,” Hussein said, highlighting the continued threat from Islamic State (ISIS) militants.
Hussein said that he and Shaibani discussed ISIS activities on their shared border in detail and noted that during a recent meeting in Amman five regional countries decided to establish an operation room to confront ISIS. At that meeting, Hussein issued a stark warning about the growing threat posed by ISIS to Iraq, Jordan, and Syria.
Shaibani said the purpose of his first trip to Iraq is not a diplomatic visit, but to reaffirm their “historic” ties, which Syrian interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa is determined to maintain as the neighbours have more in common than they have differences.
The new Syrian foreign minister was expected to visit Baghdad late last month. The delay made many believe that Iraq, which supported the ousted regime of Bashar al-Asaad, is reluctant to forge ties with the new rebel-led authorities in Damascus.
Speaking in Baghdad on Friday, Shaibani said, "We are ready to bolster coordination with Iraq to combat ISIS terrorists along our borders. Terrorism has no boundaries, therefore, we should strive to overcome it. Iraqi security is Syrian security [and] vice versa."
ISIS seized control of swathes of territory in Syria and Iraq in 2014. The group’s so-called caliphate was brought to an end in Iraq in 2017 and in Syria two years later, but the militants continue to pose a security threat.
Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani on Friday announced the killing of senior ISIS leader Abdullah Makki Muslih al-Rafiei, "one of the most dangerous terrorists in Iraq and the world,” in an operation carried out with the support of the United States-led global coalition.
Following the joint press conference, Sudani said he received Shaibani to discuss bilateral relations and "the importance of maintaining ongoing political and security consultations between the two countries."
Sudani also "stressed the need for an inclusive political process that safeguards Syria’s diversity and social cohesion. He also emphasized the importance of respecting the religious and cultural beliefs of all segments of Syrian society and firmly rejected any violations or attacks against any community."
The Iraqi prime minister also expressed Baghdad's support for Syria's sovereignty and territorial integrity and rejection of attacks by Israel.
In Syria, the fight against ISIS is spearheaded by the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) who this week signed an agreement to integrate into the national army.
Over a decade of civil war has turned many of Syria’s cities and towns into rubble. Similarly, Iraqi infrastructure was severely damaged following the fall of Saddam Hussein's regime in 2003. Shaibani said that Iraq understands more than any other country the challenge Syria is facing - "reconstruction of the country following a devastating war."
Sudani told the top Syrian diplomat that Baghdad is ready to support Damascus in reconstruct the war-torn country.
Syria wants to benefit from Iraq's experience in reconstruction, he said, as well as bolstering political, security and economic ties.
Last udated at 8:20 pm
