Fri Mar 14 15:28:38 UTC 2025: ## Syrian Interim Minister’s Visit to Iraq Amidst Tensions Following Assad’s Ouster
**BAGHDAD** – Syria’s interim foreign minister, Assaad al-Shaibani, made his first official visit to Iraq on Friday, a trip fraught with tension following the Islamist-led overthrow of Bashar al-Assad in December. The visit comes amidst a complex backdrop of shifting alliances and retaliatory actions stemming from a recent massacre of Alawites in coastal Syria.
The meeting between al-Shaibani and his Iraqi counterpart, Fuad Hussein, marks a significant development in the already strained relationship between the two neighboring countries. While Iraq, with its Shiite majority, maintains strategic ties with the US, it also enjoys close relations with Iran, a former key supporter of Assad. Iraqi armed groups also participated in the Syrian civil war, fighting alongside Assad’s forces.
The situation is further complicated by the fact that the rebels who ousted Assad are Sunni Muslims, and interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa’s past affiliation with Al-Qaeda in Iraq adds another layer of complexity.
The recent massacre of at least 1,383 civilians, primarily Alawites (Assad’s sect), has triggered significant unrest. Iraq has condemned the killings and is currently investigating an attack on Syrian workers in the country, allegedly in retaliation. Furthermore, pro-Iranian groups in Iraq have launched an online campaign against Syrians perceived as supporting the massacre, and Iraqi authorities have arrested at least 13 Syrians accused of promoting terrorism and supporting the killings. Syria has officially requested Iraq take measures to ensure the safety of its citizens residing in Iraq. Al-Shaibani’s visit is therefore taking place against this backdrop of heightened tensions and mutual accusations.
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