Iraqi PM Sudani receives Syrian, Iranian foreign ministers

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani on Friday separately met with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Syrian Foreign Minister Bassam al-Sabbagh, reiterating Baghdad’s support for Syria amid its escalating conflict with rebel forces. 

In his meeting with the Iranian minister, Sudani “reaffirmed Iraq’s official and steadfast position in support of Syria’s unity, security, and stability, emphasizing the importance of respecting Syrian sovereignty,” according to a statement from his office.

Meeting Syria’s Sabbagh, Sudani again “reiterated Iraq’s commitment to supporting Syria and its people.”

A coalition of Syrian rebel groups led by Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) launched a surprise offensive last week. They quickly took control of the northern city of Aleppo, the largest in the country, and then the strategic city of Hama. Regime forces have largely withdrawn in the face of the rebel advance.

Baghdad is concerned that the conflict could spill over into Iraq and has taken measures to secure the border. 

“Iraq’s commitment is to continuing intense diplomatic efforts to contain the crisis in Syria, due to its direct impact on Iraqi security,” Sudani said in his meeting with Iran’s Araghchi. 

On Thursday a large deployment of the Iraqi army and Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) was sent to Anbar province, which borders Syria.

The PMF is a former paramilitary umbrella group of predominantly Shiite armed forces that was established in 2014. It has been embedded into Iraq's security apparatus and is officially under the rule of Sudani as the commander-in-chief of the armed forces but sometimes does not follow his orders. Some factions within the PMF are closely aligned with Iran and its network across the Middle East, including Lebanese Hezbollah, which has backed the Syrian regime.

HTS leader Abu Mohammed al-Jolani on Thursday called on Sudani not to allow Iraqi armed groups to get involved in the conflict and said his fighters will not pose a threat to Iraq.

The predominant opinion in the Iraqi leadership is to stay out of the war across the border. On Friday, PMF chief Faleh al-Fayyadh said the conflict between the Syrian regime and the rebels is “an internal matter.” Powerful Iraqi Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr on Thursday called on Baghdad to prevent any Iraqi interference in the Syrian conflict.

Araghchi, who also met with Iraqi President Abdul Latif Rashid, called for more consultations between Baghdad and Tehran.

“We are ready to provide all kinds of support and assistance to the Syrian government and people and the Syrian army to whatever extent we are asked,” the Iranian foreign minister told Rudaw's Ziyad Ismail in Baghdad.

“It is imperative that we stand united to protect Syria’s unity,” Latif Rashid said in a statement, while urging efforts to “achieve security and stability across the region.”