Iraqi security delegation to visit Syria for talks on border security and ISIS threat

An Iraqi security delegation is preparing to visit Damascus to discuss critical security issues, including border security and countering the remnants of ISIS, according to two senior Iraqi officials in Baghdad. 

The visit comes amid growing concerns over security challenges at the Iraq-Syria border and the status of ISIS detainees held in prisons controlled by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in northern Syria.

The upcoming visit follows remarks by Hamid al-Shatri, head of Iraqi intelligence, who recently emphasised respecting the Syrian people's choices for political change and stated that Iraq refused to support the ousted Bashar al-Assad regime during the Syrian revolution.

According to Iraqi security sources speaking on condition of anonymity to Al-Araby Al-Jadeed, The New Arab's Arabic-language sister publication, the delegation's agenda includes securing the Iraq-Syria border and confronting ISIS remnants, establishing direct security communication channels for enhanced coordination, and addressing the issue of ISIS detainees held by the SDF.

The report, prepared by Mohammed Ali in Baghdad, mentions that an Iraqi National Security Advisory official confirmed to the website that the visit is purely security-oriented and unrelated to political engagements. Coordination is ongoing to finalise the visit's date and technical requirements.

Iraqi political analyst Ahmed al-Nuaimi suggested that Iraq-Syria relations will likely remain limited to essential security coordination due to internal political constraints in Iraq, influenced by pro-Iranian factions. Al-Nuaimi emphasised that Iraq's urgent security needs effective coordination, particularly on border security and combating ISIS, while avoiding deeper political alignment with Damascus.

Al-Shatri recently revealed during the Baghdad Dialogue Conference that Iraq had sent direct security messages to the new Syrian government, acknowledging the interconnected security landscapes of Iraq and Syria. He also noted that Iraq is focused on addressing the ongoing ISIS threat, especially in Homs and the Levant desert regions.

He further clarified that Iraq's priority is not to support former Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad but to prepare for any political transitions in Syria, respecting the will of the Syrian people. His comments were preceded by statements from Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein, affirming Iraq’s openness to engage with Syria's new leadership without any preconditions.

The planned visit underscores Iraq's strategic security concerns, especially regarding border stability and the persistent ISIS threat, highlighting the delicate balance between security imperatives and political neutrality in regional dynamics.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani on Tuesday. They discussed the US-Iraq strategic partnership and the importance of Iraq's stability and sovereignty. They also addressed reducing Iran's malign influence and continuing efforts to prevent ISIS from resurging and destabilising the broader region.

Situated in al-Hasakah province, north-eastern Syria, the al-Hol camp holds tens of thousands of people, including relatives of suspected IS fighters.

Iraq's National Security Adviser, Qasim al-Araji, recently stated that the country has taken deliberate steps to address extremism, uphold justice, and prevent terrorism. He highlighted the repatriation of 12,000 Iraqis from al-Hol camp since May 2021 and the retrieval of 3,000 former IS militants from Syria. He also noted that approximately 16,000 Iraqis remain in the camp and are awaiting repatriation.