An Iraqi government source said on Wednesday, October 21, that Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi will make an official visit to Syria and Lebanon next week, heading a government delegation to discuss several issues of mutual concern between Baghdad and both Damascus and Beirut.
The Syrian government had not issued any official statement or provided details about the visit at the time of publication.
Iraq’s Shafaq News agency, which describes itself as a news platform affiliated with Shafaq, an Iraqi organization for Feyli Kurdish culture and media, quoted the government source as saying that Lebanon would be the first stop on the tour before al-Zaidi travels to Syria. The source did not specify the exact dates of the visit or name the officials the Iraqi prime minister would meet.
The planned visit comes amid continued contacts between the Syrian and Iraqi governments since the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime on December 8, 2024, and efforts by both sides to strengthen bilateral relations. These efforts have focused on security coordination and control of their shared border, alongside expanding economic and trade cooperation.
New York Meeting Paves the Way for Visit
Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa previously met al-Zaidi in New York in September, on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly. The two discussed ways to strengthen bilateral relations, particularly in the security and economic sectors.
The meeting was part of diplomatic efforts between Damascus and Baghdad to expand high-level communication following a period of caution after the fall of the former regime, amid differences in political positions and overlapping security and regional issues between the two countries.
From Caution to Renewed Political Engagement
Syrian-Iraqi relations entered a period of caution following the fall of the Assad regime. Iraq was concerned about the implications of political change in Syria for border security, while Syria had concerns about Baghdad’s ties with Iran, which supported the former regime and whose affiliated armed groups fought alongside it.
On December 26, 2024, Iraqi intelligence chief Hamid al-Shatri visited Damascus and met al-Sharaa and other Syrian officials. The visit marked one of the most significant instances of direct official engagement between the two sides following the regime’s fall. Contacts during that period focused on security issues, developments in Syria and their implications for Iraq.
In April 2025, a phone call between al-Sharaa and former Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani addressed strengthening bilateral relations and opening a new chapter between the two countries. The call signaled continued political communication despite Baghdad’s reservations about the new authorities in Damascus.
On March 14, 2025, Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani visited the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, on his first trip to Iraq since the fall of the former regime. He met his Iraqi counterpart, Fuad Hussein, and discussed issues concerning the future of bilateral relations.
The discussions covered securing the shared border, addressing the situation of Iraqis held in camps housing Islamic State (ISIS) fighters and their families in northeastern Syria, and the issue of former regime officers residing in Iraq. These issues demonstrated that security challenges remained central to rebuilding relations, alongside efforts to resume political and diplomatic cooperation.
Security and Economy Top the Agenda
Syria and Iraq share a border stretching approximately 600 kilometers, making border security, preventing militant infiltration and combating smuggling common priorities. Countering ISIS also remains an important area of security coordination, as the group continues to operate in desert areas spanning the two countries.
In July 2025, al-Sudani confirmed in an interview with the Associated Press that Baghdad was coordinating with Syria’s new government, particularly on security matters. He noted that both countries faced a shared challenge from ISIS. His remarks reflected Iraq’s willingness to engage with the new Syrian authorities through cooperation on threats affecting both countries’ security.
Shared interests extend beyond security. Trade, energy, transportation, and reconstruction are among the areas that could provide a foundation for expanding cooperation between Damascus and Baghdad. Syria’s geographic position also gives it strategic importance for Iraq, particularly through the potential development of land transport routes and trade corridors connecting Iraq to regional and Mediterranean markets.
Al-Zaidi’s planned visit follows his meeting with al-Sharaa in New York and would mark another stage in contacts between the two governments. The visit is expected to provide an opportunity to discuss issues of mutual interest, although the Iraqi source did not disclose details of the agenda or any agreements that might result.
Security and economic issues remain among the most pressing challenges facing both governments as they seek to reshape relations following Syria’s political transition and establish mechanisms for cooperation on borders, trade and energy that serve their shared interests.