Iraq PM Visits Syria: First Trip Since Assad Fall
Last updated 2026-10-28 14:00 UTC. Built from Al Jazeera (13:47 UTC), Arab News/Reuters, Asharq Al-Awsat, TRT World, Iraqi News Agency (INA).
What we know
Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Faleh al-Zaidi arrived in Damascus on 28 October 2026 and met Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa at Damascus International Airport. This is the first visit by an Iraqi premier to Syria since al-Sharaa took power after Assad's fall in December 2024. Talks covered energy, trade, agriculture, security, and refugee returns. Iraq and Syria share a 600-kilometre border. In July 2026 both countries signed a memorandum of understanding to revive an oil pipeline to Syria's Baniyas port on the Mediterranean; Iraq has begun limited oil exports through Syria since Strait of Hormuz disruptions. Al-Sharaa cited over 100,000 transit trucks and 40,000 import/export trucks crossing in six to seven months. Leaders also discussed linking Iraq's Grand Faw Port to Syria's Tartus Port via an overland corridor.
What is not known yet
No signed agreements have been publicly released from this visit. The timeline and capacity of the Baniyas oil pipeline revival are not confirmed. Exact trade volume targets and any investment commitments have not been disclosed. The status of approximately 3,000 Syrian nationals held in Iraq who were transferred by coalition forces has not been formally resolved. The agenda for follow-up talks or a return visit by al-Sharaa to Baghdad has not been announced.
600kilometres of shared Iraq-Syria border
Al-Zaidi arrives Damascus
28 October 2026
Iraq-Syria oil pipeline MOU signed
July 2026
Assad government fell
8 December 2024
Transit trucks crossing in ~7 months
100,000+
Import/export trucks crossing in ~7 months
40,000+
Iraq-Syria border length
600 km (370 miles)
"The Iraqi and Syrian people are one people in two countries.
"Iraqi PM Ali al-Zaidi
"Syria is keen to achieve the highest levels of cooperation between the two countries.
"Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa
What to watch next
- Release of any signed agreements or joint communique from the 28 October visit.
- Progress on Baniyas oil pipeline rehabilitation: construction timeline and first commercial shipment date.
- Grand Faw Port to Tartus corridor: feasibility study or framework agreement expected in coming months.
- Resolution of the Syrian detainee file: al-Sharaa has pushed for repatriation of Syrians held in Iraq with no ISIS connection.
- A reciprocal visit by al-Sharaa to Baghdad, which has not yet been scheduled.
- Arab League and Gulf state reactions to the deepening Iraq-Syria economic partnership.
How we know this. Al-Zaidi's arrival and talks: Al Jazeera (13:47 UTC 28 October 2026), Iraqi News Agency (INA, official government statements), TRT World. Trade truck figures and pipeline details: Arab News/Reuters (28 October 2026). Oil pipeline MOU and Hormuz context: Asharq Al-Awsat (28 October 2026). Detainee figures and al-Sharaa quotes: Arab News (28 October 2026). Background on Assad's fall and Iraq's cautious engagement: Al Jazeera archive. Cover image: Damascus Panorama.jpg by an anony
