Al-Sharaa bows out of Baghdad summit after Iraqi pro-Iran factions object

Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa will not attend the upcoming Arab League summit in Baghdad this weekend, a decision that comes after Iraq’s invitation to him triggered strong objections from powerful pro-Iranian factions.

The development was confirmed on May 12 by Syria’s state media, highlighting continuing tensions over Damascus’s regional reintegration.

According to Asharq Al-Awsat, the Syrian delegation at the May 18 summit will instead be headed by Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaybani. State broadcaster Ekhbariya TV made the announcement without offering any official explanation for President Sharaa’s absence.

The Baghdad summit is expected to focus on two major themes: the reconstruction of Gaza and the broader Palestinian issue. However, Sharaa’s decision to opt out of attending reflects Syria’s uneven diplomatic re-engagement with the region following the ouster of former president Bashar al-Assad last year. While Sharaa has made swift progress in restoring ties with key Gulf nations such as Saudi Arabia and Qatar, his approach toward countries where Iran holds significant sway, particularly Iraq, has been far more cautious.

Opposition to Sharaa’s potential visit in Iraq emerged swiftly, with several influential political figures voicing criticism. Among them was former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, a senior member of Iraq’s dominant pro-Iranian parliamentary coalition. Al-Maliki’s disapproval was echoed by armed groups closely aligned with Tehran, including Kataib Hezbollah, a militia that previously fought alongside Assad’s forces during Syria’s civil war.

Despite the backlash, Iraqi government officials reportedly remain committed to building constructive ties with Syria’s new leadership, viewing engagement as essential to maintaining regional stability. Sources close to the matter said Baghdad is keen to normalise relations with Damascus, though without alienating powerful domestic factions allied with Iran.

In contrast to the pushback from pro-Iranian quarters, many Sunni politicians in Iraq welcomed Sharaa’s participation, seeing it as a sign that Iraq may be seeking to pivot away from Iranian influence and reintegrate more fully into the Arab world.

“There are forces actively working to undermine Iraq’s path toward reclaiming its rightful place within the Arab community,” said Raad al-Dahlaki, the head of the Azm Alliance, a prominent Sunni bloc in Iraq’s parliament. According to Dahlaki, a strengthened relationship with Syria under Sharaa would serve Iraq’s long-term interests and align it more closely with broader Arab positions.

Sharaa’s absence from the Baghdad summit may signal that Syria’s full return to the regional fold remains fraught with political complexities, particularly in contexts where Iranian influence remains deeply entrenched. Nonetheless, his administration’s balancing act between Gulf Arab allies and traditionally Iran-aligned neighbours appears set to shape Damascus’s foreign policy strategy in the months to come.

By Tamilla Hasanova