Iraq’s Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani made a historic visit to Damascus on Sunday, marking the first trip by an Iraqi PM to Syria since the outbreak of the civil war in the country over a decade ago.
During their meeting both leaders indirectly blamed Turkey for the water scarcity affecting their countries, referencing dams constructed on shared rivers. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad condemned the water shortages as the “theft of Syria and Iraq’s share”, while Sudani emphasised the necessity for dialogue with “upstream countries” to ensure equitable water distribution for both nations.
The Euphrates and Tigris rivers, shared by Iraq, Syria and Turkey, have experienced a significant drop in water levels in recent years. Contributing factors include climate change, reduced precipitation and the construction of extensive dams in Turkey.
While most regional nations severed diplomatic ties with Syria following the eruption of the conflict, Iraq maintained its relations and was also among the first of the Arab countries to embrace recent efforts to normalise ties with Damascus. Speaking at a joint press conference, Sudani emphasised the historical, social and geographical connections between Iraq and Syria, stating that security and stability compel both nations to further cooperate and coordinate to confront challenges.
President Assad expressed gratitude for Iraq’s steadfast support during the early stages of the conflict in Syria. He also commended Baghdad’s provision of aid to Syrians affected by a devastating earthquake earlier this year.
The earthquake, which caused widespread destruction in both Syria and Turkey, played a role in a Saudi-led initiative to improve relations with Assad’s government. As a result, Arab states have readmitted Syria into the Arab League after a 12-year hiatus.
