ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani and Syria's interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa have met in Qatar, marking their first meeting since the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime, reported Iraqi state media on Thursday.
Iraqi News Agency (INA) cited an unnamed Iraqi government official as saying that Sudani made a “quick visit” to Qatar to meet with Sharaa. The meeting was apparently mediated by the Emir of Qatar Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.
Sudani said he was closely monitoring the developments in Syria, reaffirming Baghdad’s “firm and principled position calling for a comprehensive political process and protection of components and social, religious and national diversity in Syria,” INA reported.
The Iraqi prime minister also called on Sharaa to take “practical and serious” steps in the fight against the Islamic State (ISIS).
Syrian presidency confirmed the meeting, saying both leaders "emphasized importance of respecting the sovereignty and independence of both countries and rejecting all forms of foreign interference, affirming that the security and stability of Syria and Iraq constitute the cornerstone for the security of the entire region."
They also touched on both neighboring countries' border security and how to resume trade movement between both countries, according to the statement.
The meeting between Sudani and Sharaa comes as Baghdad is bracing itself to host the 34th Arab League Summit on May 17, marking a significant moment in Iraq’s broader efforts to enhance its regional and international standing.
Sudani said during the Sulaimani Forum on Wednesday that Sharaa has been officially invited for the summit.
The Arab League Summit is a major event that brings together the heads of state and high-ranking officials from the 22 member countries. It serves as a platform for discussing critical issues facing the Arab world, including economic, political, and security challenges.
However, in recent weeks, reports that Sharaa might not attend the key summit were being circulated.
During his first phone call with Sharaa on April 1, Sudani “stressed the importance of ensuring that the political process [in Syria] includes all national components of Syrian society, and that it moves toward peaceful coexistence and social stability to ensure a secure and stable future for Syria and the region as a whole.”
Following a swift offensive, a coalition of opposition groups led by Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) - headed by Sharaa - in early December toppled the regime of Syrian dictator Assad. In late January, Sharaa was appointed as Syria’s interim president.
While Sharaa was congratulated by the majority of Arab countries on his appointment in late January, Iraq notably withheld its support, signaling caution in its approach to the new leadership in Damascus. Of note, Baghdad was a close ally of Assad.
However, in mid-March, Syria’s Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani made his first visit to Baghdad after weeks of delay for unknown reasons.
Updated at 11:59 pm
