Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani has emphasized the urgency of diplomatic efforts to address the escalating crisis in Syria, citing its direct impact on Iraq’s security.
“Iraq is continuing intensive diplomatic efforts with the aim of containing the crisis in Syria due to its clear impact on Iraqi security,” Sudani said on Friday in a meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. He reaffirmed Iraq’s commitment to Syria’s “unity, security, and stability,” according to a statement from his office.
The remarks come ahead of a planned meeting involving top diplomats from Iraq, Syria, and Iran to discuss Syria’s volatile situation. Islamist-led fighters have made significant advances, reaching within five kilometers of Homs, Syria’s third-largest city and a former hub of anti-government protests.
Iraq’s Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein expressed “deep concerns” over developments in Syria during talks with his Syrian counterpart, Bassam Al-Sabbagh. Both ministers highlighted the importance of sustained coordination to avoid repeating past security failures and to bolster regional stability.
Sabbagh called for collective Arab and regional action to confront the escalating terrorist threat, warning against its potential spread to other nations. “The necessity of mobilizing Arab and regional efforts to counter this terrorist threat... and prevent it from moving to other countries,” he said, as reported by Syria’s official news agency SANA.
Both Iraq and Syria are still reeling from the devastation wrought by Daesh, which once controlled vast territories in the region, and the protracted conflicts to reclaim them.
In a bid to reinforce its border security, Iraq’s defense ministry announced on Monday that armored vehicles would be deployed along its 600-kilometer border with Syria.
The situation remains tense, with Syrian rebel leader Abu Mohammed Al-Jolani cautioning Sudani against aligning with the Syrian government’s forces. “Keep your country distant from Syria’s war and prevent armed groups from backing Bashar Assad’s forces,” Al-Jolani said on Thursday.
Meanwhile, Faleh Al-Fayyad, head of the Hashed Al-Shaabi forces now integrated into Iraq’s regular army, stressed Iraq’s neutral stance. “The crisis in Syria is an internal event... and Iraq has no business with it,” he stated on Friday.
Iraq’s diplomatic maneuvers underscore its effort to manage the spillover effects of Syria’s conflict while maintaining its own national security and stability.
(Source: ARABNEWS)
BD-Pratidin English/Mazdud
