Syria, Iraq advance joint security coordination efforts

Syrian and Iraqi officials have held talks on strengthening border security and expanding bilateral coordination, following a visit by a Syrian defence delegation to Iraq, state media reported.

The delegation, led by Brigadier General Hassan Abdul Ghani, commander of the Syrian Arab Army’s border forces, met Lieutenant General Mohammed Abdul Wahab Sukkar, head of the Iraqi Interior Ministry’s border forces, according to Syria’s state news agency SANA.

In a statement published on its Telegram channel on Monday, the Syrian Ministry of Defence said the discussions focused on “a number of joint issues,” primarily efforts to reinforce border control, combat smuggling and enhance coordination between the two countries across all sectors.

The meeting comes a week after Syria and Iraq agreed to establish a high-level joint coordination committee aimed at overseeing bilateral cooperation and aligning efforts in multiple areas.

The agreement was reached during a visit to Damascus by Iraq’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein.

By Tamilla Hasanova