ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq - Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani on Friday said that Baghdad respects the will of Syrian people while expressing commitment to supporting an inclusive political process in the neighboring country, a day after the first top Iraqi government delegation visited Damascus, meeting the country’s new de facto ruler Ahmed al-Sharaa.
"The Iraqi government respects the will of the Syrians and looks forward to a comprehensive political process,” Sudani said on Friday in an interview with Saudi state-owned Al Arabiya TV Channel.
For the first time since the ouster of Bashar al-Assad following a lightning Islamist-led offensive, a top Iraqi government delegation led by Hamid al-Shatri, head of the National Intelligence Service visited Damascus on Thursday, meeting with the country’s new administration, discussing regional developments and border security.
“The Iraqi delegation discussed developments on the Syrian scene and the requirements for security and stability on the common border between Iraq and Syria,” Basim al-Awadi, the Iraqi government spokesperson confirmed.
Iraqi Prime Minister Sudani said that they "informed the administration in Syria of our vision regarding the current situation, and we are keen to coordinate with Syria to control the borders.”
An 11-day sweeping rebel offensive spearheaded by Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham, and led by Sharaa brought a five-decade-long rule of the Assad family to an end on December 8.
Soon after the Damascus regime's downfall, opposition groups formed an interim government that would last until March 1 under Mohammed al-Bashir's leadership. Top officials from many countries worldwide visit Damascus daily to meet with the country’s new rulers.
Iraq strongly backed Assad and fiercely supported him until his very last moments as the president.
Sudani said the "Assad regime did not ask Iraq to intervene militarily."
The Syrian rebel’s 11-day blitz, which led to the ouster of Assad, sparked concerns among the Iraqi public and authorities over the conflict’s potential repercussions on Iraq.
"Any disruption in Syria's prisons will push us to confront terrorism,” Sudani said.
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