Iraq’s Chief Justice Faiq Zidan meets Syrian President Al-Sharaa in Damascus

Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) — Iraq’s Supreme Judicial Council President Faiq Zidan met with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa in Damascus on Thursday, marking another high-level Iraqi outreach to a neighboring Arab state as Baghdad seeks to bolster regional relations under rising security problems. Al-Sharaa welcomed Zidan and an Iraqi delegation to the People’s Palace, which also included Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani and Justice Minister Mazhar al-Wais. According to the Syrian president, the talks focused on extending judicial and legal cooperation between Iraq and Syria, as well as resolving mutual concerns. The visit also resulted in more practical conversations among the two nations’ judicial officials. Iraqi and Syrian authorities agreed to set up joint judicial committees to continue working on cases involving Syrian prisoners and other cross-border legal issues. Zidan’s visit is crucial as he is one of the most prominent persons in Iraq’s state institutions, and it coincides with Baghdad’s increased diplomatic, security, and judicial interaction with its neighbors. The Damascus meetings come after a separate Iraqi security group visited Riyadh, where senior military official Abdul Amir al-Shammari met with Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman. Zidan had also just visited Ankara as part of a larger Iraqi effort to build ties with Saudi Arabia, Syria, and Turkey. That approach has become more urgent in light of the regional escalation involving Iran-backed Iraqi forces. In late July, the United States and Saudi Arabia conducted synchronized attacks against locations used by Iran-aligned organizations in Iraq, after Riyadh accused militias operating from Iraqi territory of firing drones against Saudi energy infrastructure. The incident put Baghdad under strong pressure to prevent armed organizations from exploiting Iraqi territory to launch assaults on neighboring nations and also highlighted the potential that militia activity may harm Iraq’s improved ties with Arab governments. Against this setting, Zidan’s encounter with Al-Sharaa is significant beyond regular court cooperation. Iraq and Syria share a long border and confront shared concerns such as terrorism, organized crime, prisoners, and cross-border security. Baghdad also has a strategic interest in preserving stable ties with Damascus, as Iraq strives to boost regional connections and prevent unrest from spilling over its borders. Iraq’s Prime Minister Ali Al-Zaidi’s administration sees recent diplomatic efforts as part of a larger effort to strengthen Iraq’s ties with its neighbors while keeping the nation out of the developing conflict between Iran and its regional adversaries. Baghdad has increasingly emphasized that choices on security, armament, and relations with neighboring governments must be made by Iraqi official authorities rather than armed groupings. The travels to Damascus and Riyadh therefore convey an essential message: although Iran-aligned militias have exacerbated tensions between Iraq and certain of its neighbors, Iraqi official institutions are working directly with those nations to restore cooperation and avoid further escalation. Strengthening judicial, diplomatic, and security ties with Syria, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey might serve as an essential regional buffer for Iraq as it seeks to safeguard its sovereignty, control armed groups, and avoid being drawn further into the region’s crises. The post Iraq’s Chief Justice Faiq Zidan meets Syrian President Al-Sharaa in Damascus appeared first on Iraqi News.