Al-Shibani says Syria ready to cooperate with Iraq in combating IS
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During a joint press conference in Baghdad, Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein addressed concerns over the recent mass killings of civilians in Syria’s coastal region.
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Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani gives a press conference, in Damascus, Syria, on Dec. 30, 2024 (AFP)
Syria’s interim foreign minister, Asaad al-Shibani, arrived in Iraq on Friday, marking his first visit to the country since the offensive that ousted Bashar al-Assad.
Relations between Syria and Iraq have grown increasingly complex following al-Assad’s removal, as the former Syrian leader maintained close ties with Baghdad’s government.
During his visit to Baghdad, al-Shibani held talks with his Iraqi counterpart, Fuad Hussein, according to the official Iraqi News Agency.
During a joint press conference, al-Shibani expressed Syria's readiness to "reinforce cooperation" with Iraq in combating the remnants of the Islamic State (IS) terrorist group.
"Security is a shared responsibility," al-Shibani emphasized, adding, "We are ready to reinforce cooperation with Iraq in the fight against Daesh (an Arabic acronym for IS) along the whole length of the border. Terrorism knows no borders."
For his part, Hussein also addressed concerns over the recent mass killings of civilians in Syria’s coastal region, predominantly targeting the Alawite minority. He expressed hope that the investigation launched by Syria’s new authorities would yield "tangible results" in fostering civil peace.
Iraq strongly condemned the massacre of at least 1,383 civilians in Syria’s coastal region earlier this month by the new Syrian security forces and their allied groups. The majority of those killed were Alawites, the sect to which al-Assad happens to belong to.
Earlier this week, Iraq announced an investigation into an attack on Syrian workers in its territory after a newly formed Iraqi group vowed to avenge the mass killing of Alawite civilians in Syria.
In recent days, Iraqi security forces have arrested at least 13 Syrians accused of “promoting terrorist groups” and supporting the mass killings in Syria, according to two Iraqi interior ministry officials who spoke to AFP on condition of anonymity.
Syria’s Foreign Ministry issued a statement on Wednesday condemning the violence against its citizens and urged Baghdad to take “necessary measures to ensure the security of Syrians residing in Iraq.”
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