Al-Araby Al-Jadeed, °®Âþµº's Arabic-language sister publication, reported that Syrian president Bashar Assad allegedly requested advanced weaponry and the potential deployment of Iraqi armed forces to help repel opposition fighters who have recently taken control of several major Syrian cities.
According to Al-Araby's report, Assad personally requested assistance during a phone call with the Iraqi prime minister.
For their part, several Iraqi lawmakers have also categorically denied reports that the country's parliament has authorised military intervention in Syria to support Assad's regime against advancing rebel forces. The denials come amid claims that
The controversy has spotlighted Baghdad's role in the neighbouring conflict and exposed divisions within Iraq's political landscape.
Parliamentary denials, conflicting statements
On Wednesday, prime minister Sudani addressed a , outlining his government's strategy to tackle what he described as "escalating regional threats" from Syria's unrest.
However, lawmakers across the political spectrum were quick to deny allegations of military authorisation.
Karim Abu Suda, deputy head of Iraq's Defence and Security Parliamentary Committee, dismissed the claims as "baseless."
"We have not and will not authorise any intrusion into Syrian territories. Iraq must focus on securing its borders and protecting its sovereignty. We will not allow our nation to be dragged into a proxy war," Abu Suda asserted to TNA.
He added that there was no formal request from Assad for military intervention.
Kurdish MP Karim Shukur, also a member of the Defence and Security Committee, also asserted that no parliamentary discussion of Assad's alleged request had taken place. "As commander-in-chief of the armed forces, Prime Minister Sudani cannot deploy regular army units abroad without parliamentary approval, which has not been granted," Shukur stressed.
The allegations have exposed sharp divisions among Iraq's Shia political factions, particularly within the Coordination Framework coalition. Key leaders, including former prime minister Nouri al-Maliki, advocated for supporting Assad, citing regional security concerns and the need to counter perceived threats from Syrian rebel groups. Other factions warn that such involvement could invite international backlash, including US sanctions.
An official from Iraq's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, speaking on condition of anonymity, claimed to Al-Araby Al-Jadeed that Assad's request was discussed in a recent meeting of the Coordination Framework. "The issue of sending weapons or forces is highly sensitive. It's not something Iraq can take lightly, especially given the regional and international implications," the source said.
Militias seem to be mobilising
While the Iraqi government officially denied any military commitment to Assad, various report suggest that Iran-aligned militias within Iraq are independently mobilising to assist the Syrian regime.
Aws al-Khafaji, leader of the Abu al-Fadl al-Abbas militia, announced the deployment of fighters to Syria, claiming coordination with Iraqi officials. "Our forces will operate in Damascus only, in cooperation with the Syrian government," Khafaji told Iraqi media outlets. The militia, which reportedly boasts over 7,000 fighters, has been intensifying recruitment efforts in recent weeks.
However, Mohammed al-Shammari, a member of Iraq's Security and Defense Committee, sought to distance the government from these militia activities. "Sudani is not responsible for the factions going to Syria," Shammari said in a televised interview with a local media outlet, emphasising that "any faction affiliated with the Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF) and heading to Syria is acting outside of government decisions."
Shammari also pointed to Iraq's history of limited military involvement in Syria, noting that Iraqi forces previously conducted airstrikes in Al-Bukamal and Deir ez-Zor at Assad's request in 2018 and 2019.
Iraqi political analyst Ghaleb al-Dami characterised calls by certain factions, such as Kata'ib Hezbollah, pressuring Sudani to send forces to Syria as "a Syrian request directed to Iraq." In a local television appearance, al-Dami warned that Iraq's involvement in Syria could backfire.
"The involvement of Iraqi factions in Syria would be a trap set by Israel," he argued. "Israel has struck Iraqi factions before, yet Iraq has not retaliated. Iraq should not involve itself in Syrian affairs."
Al-Dami also cautioned that such actions could lead to US sanctions, adding, "Iraq’s intervention in Syria would be viewed as sectarian" and potential harm Iraq's relationships with both Turkey and the United States.
With a 618-kilometre shared border, Iraq faces significant security risks from the ongoing Syrian conflict. Lawmakers have expressed concerns about the potential resurgence of Islamic state (ISIS) sleeper cells, which could exploit instability in Syria to regroup and launch attacks on Iraqi soil.
"We cannot allow a repeat of the 2014 ISIS resurgence. Iraq’s security forces are on high alert and have fortified border defences," Shukur said to TNA.
For his part, interior minister Abdul Amir al-Shammari noted that Iraq's border security measures have been strengthened, describing the situation as "fully under control."
In addition to security threats, Iraq is preparing for a potential influx of refugees fleeing violence in Syria, which could strain the country's already fragile infrastructure.
Geopolitical implications
Iraq's response to the Syrian crisis underscores the delicate balancing act it must perform in a volatile region. Sudani recently discussed the situation with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, reaffirming Iraq's commitment to regional stability.
"Iraq will not stand idle as our borders and the broader region face destabilisation," Sudani reportedly told Erdogan.
At the same time, Iraqi leaders are wary of alienating Western allies or jeopardising relations with neighbouring Iran and Turkey. A senior official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasised the need for caution. "The issue of sending weapons or forces to Syria is highly sensitive. Iraq must weigh its actions carefully to avoid regional and international repercussions," an unnamed official had told Al-Araby Al-Jadeed.
Ghani Ghadban, a strategic analyst, highlighted the broader geopolitical stakes. "The Syrian conflict is a complex web of competing interests. The US and Israel aim to curb Iranian influence, Turkey seeks to secure its borders and assert its regional power, and Russia's position has weakened due to its war in Ukraine," Ghadban remarked to TNA.
He also noted the ideological contradictions in Iraq's position. "Iraqis oppose the Baathist ideology within their borders but are seen defending Assad's Baathist regime abroad. This inconsistency undermines Iraq's credibility on the international stage," he argued.
Meanwhile, Fathulla Husseini, a representative of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES) in the Iraqi Kurdistan Region, provided to TNA updates on the situation in Kurdish-controlled areas of Syria.
While Husseini denied claims of an agreement between the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and Syrian rebels, he confirmed that Kurdish civilians have not evacuated Aleppo's Sheikh Maqsud and Ashrafiya neighbourhoods, which were predominantly Kurdish areas where SDF forces remain present.
"There is no fighting between the two sides in Aleppo at present, and the SDF maintains its presence in these sectors," Husseini stated.
He also alleged that Syrian rebels attempted to massacre Kurdish civilians in Shahba camp but said that they were safely evacuated to Tabqa and Raqqa. Furthermore, Husseini clarified that there is no formal agreement between AANES and the Syrian government.
"As AANES, we welcome any initiative that aims to provide a peaceful solution to the Syrian question," he emphasised.
For now, Iraq's official focus remains on securing its borders and maintaining domestic stability. However, the mobilisation of militias, political divisions, and international pressure suggest that Baghdad’s role in the Syrian crisis is far from resolved.