President Ahmed al-Sharaa affirmed that high-level security coordination between Syria and Iraq has contributed to stabilizing the shared borders and combating terrorism and smuggling, noting that unifying weapons and restricting them to the state's possession constitutes a clear approach in Syria since the early days. This came during an interview with Iraqi Dijla TV, where al-Sharaa clarified that continuous communication with the Iraqi side helps address any security concerns, amid joint efforts to enhance bilateral relations and develop economic partnership.
In the same context, Commander of the Iraqi Border Forces, Major General Mohammed Abdul Wahab Sakr Al-Saadi, confirmed in March last year that the Iraqi border with Syria is secure and its control level is at its best, thanks to continuous coordination between Iraqi and Syrian forces. The two countries also agreed on June 29, 2026, to form a high-level committee for joint coordination to follow up on bilateral cooperation and coordinate efforts in various fields.
For his part, academic and political researcher Alaa Mustafa pointed out that cooperation between Baghdad and Damascus is beginning to reflect positively on the ground, explaining that Iraq relies on an integrated security system that supports its ability to control borders. Mustafa added that security stability supports the movement of commercial convoys and the transport of oil and oil derivatives, noting that the continued movement of oil tankers from Iraq towards Baniyas reflects the importance of this stability in supporting shared economic interests.
President al-Sharaa affirmed that threats from the "ISIS" terrorist organization have gradually declined compared to previous stages, without reaching a state of full reassurance, stressing the importance of cooperation between Syria and Iraq to confront extremist organizations. He pointed out that transferring detainees from the organization from Syrian territory to Iraq poses challenges requiring continued exchange of information and cooperation between the relevant agencies in both countries.
Iraqi political think tank head Ihsan Al-Shamari believed that strengthening political and security decision-making in both countries opens the door to a strategic partnership for border control and counter-terrorism, pointing out the possibility of developing coordination through joint security, military, and intelligence rooms. He noted that Syria has made significant progress in unifying armed forces and integrating factions into the defense and interior institutions, ending the multiplicity of armed power centers.
Regarding the Iraqi file, the government has moved towards adopting a gradual approach to address the file of weapons outside state institutions, and announced a plan to restrict them to the state's possession, setting June 30, 2027, as the final deadline for implementing the roadmap. Al-Shamari warned that the success of the Iraqi path is still undecided, amid the influences of Iran and its allies, pointing out that the multiplicity of armed forces weakens the authority of official institutions and limits the government's ability to make war and peace decisions independently.
Al-Shamari added that the Iraqi experience is more complex due to the overlap of some armed factions with the political system and official institutions, as well as Iranian pressures, while Syria faces challenges in rebuilding a national military institution after years of conflict and has made progress in this path. The difference between the two experiences reflects the nature of the challenges facing both countries in strengthening the authority of official institutions and consolidating internal stability, which reflects on border security and regional cooperation.
Mustafa believed that President al-Sharaa's remarks reflect a trend towards establishing an economic partnership between Syria and Iraq, within the framework of a broader political consensus enjoying US patronage. He pointed out that developing the oil transport line from Iraq to Baniyas could provide Iraq with a sea outlet to the Mediterranean Sea, opening avenues to expand trade movement and cargo transport from the Gulf through Syria.
For his part, Al-Shamari believed that developing security and intelligence coordination between the two countries contributes to protecting Syrian national security and preventing the transfer of threats, and paves the way for expanding economic and commercial cooperation, especially through Syrian ports for exporting Iraqi oil to the Mediterranean Sea. The development of coordination between Damascus and Baghdad opens the door to a partnership that goes beyond addressing immediate security challenges to transport, energy, and trade projects, thereby enhancing shared interests and supporting stability and development in both countries.
Source: Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA)
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