Iraqi PM Ali al-Zaidi meets Ahmed al-Sharaa in historic Syria visit

What the report says

Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi traveled to Damascus on 28 October 2026 for talks with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, marking the first visit by an Iraqi premier to Syria since the fall of Bashar al-Assad, according to Al Jazeera. The meeting was presented as part of a broader effort by the neighboring countries to rebuild ties and expand cooperation after years of strained relations and regional upheaval.

According to the Iraqi News Agency, the discussions centered on trade, oil transit and economic coordination, including efforts to revive the Baniyas pipeline to carry Iraqi crude through Syria. The two sides also addressed agricultural cooperation, with the aim of improving food and economic integration. Al Jazeera noted that Iraq has recently begun limited oil exports through Syria, and that the countries signed agreements in July to move forward with the Haditha-Baniyas pipeline project and related energy work.

Al-Zaidi said the Iraqi and Syrian peoples were closely linked and called for broader partnership, including in economic and social affairs, security cooperation and positions on regional and international issues. Al-Sharaa, according to INA, welcomed the delegation and stressed Syria’s interest in deeper cooperation.

The visit is significant because it signals a possible thaw in Iraq-Syria relations and highlights how energy infrastructure, trade and border stability remain central to both governments’ plans. Al Jazeera also noted that the two leaders had met previously in New York in September during the UN General Assembly.