ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq - Iraqi lawmaker Ahmed al-Sharmani announced Sunday that the parliament is seeking answers about the “ambiguity” surrounding a meeting between Iraqi Intelligence Service chief Hamid al-Shatri and Ahmed al-Sharaa, Syria’s new de facto ruler.
For the first time since the ouster of Bashar al-Assad following a lightning Islamist-led offensive, a top Iraqi government delegation led by Shatri visited Damascus on Thursday, meeting with the country’s new administration, discussing regional developments and border security.
Sharmani told The New Region that the Iraqi Parliament had previously expressed support for government actions addressing regional developments, particularly in Syria. However, he said the lack of transparency about the visit to Damascus raises questions.
“The House of Representatives, during its session with Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani, clearly announced its support for all government steps to address regional developments, especially on the Syrian front," Sharmani said. “Certainly, Shatri's visit to Damascus and his meeting with Al-Sharaa focused on sensitive and important security issues concerning both countries.”
He added, “There is still ambiguity surrounding the results of the visit. The Iraqi government has not disclosed the outcomes, and the Syrian side has also remained silent. Therefore, we, as members of Parliament, will act through legal parliamentary frameworks to seek clarity. This could involve submitting written or oral questions or summoning officials, rights afforded to us as legislators.”
A senior government source, speaking on condition of anonymity, told governmental news agencies that the discussions in Damascus were primarily focused on security issues.
“The talks led by Hamid al-Shatri were security-centered, with an emphasis on border protection and preventing the resurgence of ISIS activities,” the source said. “The delegation also addressed the security of prisons holding ISIS militants within Syrian territory.”
The source added that Iraq also presented its concerns regarding the respect for minorities and the protection of holy sites. “Iraq is a pivotal player in the region, and it’s crucial to approach these matters with the mindset of a sovereign state,” the source said.
The Syrian administration reportedly expressed its support for Iraq’s concerns and demands on the issues discussed.
Government spokesperson Bassem al-Awadi confirmed the meeting between the Iraqi government delegation and Syria’s Sharaa focused on “developments on the Syrian scene and the requirements for ensuring security and stability along the shared borders between the two countries.”
An 11-day sweeping rebel offensive spearheaded by Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham, led by Sharaa, brought a five-decade-long rule of the Assad family to an end on December 8.
Soon after Assad’s ouster, Damascus became a hotspot for diplomats’ visits worldwide, including a top delegation from Iraq. Baghdad was a key backer of Assad and had expressed worry on multiple occasions that the rapid developments in the neighboring country would pose security threats to Iraq.
In an interview with Saudi state-owned Al Arabiya on Sunday, Sharaa said that "liberating Syria guarantees the security of the region and the Gulf for the next fifty years."
Telegram
