Iraqi PM visits Syria as neighbours seek to boost ties

DAMASCUS: Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al Zaidi arrived in Damascus on Wednesday and was met by President Ahmed al Sharaa, Syrian state media said, as the neighbours seek to bolster economic and energy cooperation. It is the first visit by an Iraqi prime minister since Sharaa's authorities took power after toppling longtime Syrian ruler Bashar al Assad in December 2024.
Sharaa received Zaidi and his accompanying delegation at Damascus international airport, Syrian state television reported. Iraq is seeking to strengthen ties with a neighbour with whom it shares a 600-kilometre border, while Syria is working to become a transit hub for global trade, particularly as countries look for alternatives to the Strait of Hormuz.
In an interview broadcast by Iraqi television channel Dijlah, Sharaa welcomed Zaidi's visit and said that 'in the past year and a half, something positive has been built in Syrian-Iraqi relations, particularly in economic matters'. He said his country sees ties with Iraq predominantly in terms of their 'great historical and economic commonalities' rather than sectarian terms.
Sharaa said some of the around 3,000 Syrian detainees transferred to Iraq had 'no connection' to IS, with efforts underway to categorise them, examine Syria's responsibility and possibilities for repatriation.