Iraq's Interior Ministry and a prominent Kurdish political party in northern Iraq categorically rejected allegations that Maher al-Assad, the brother of former dictator Bashar Al-Assad and head of the infamous 4th Armoured Division, slipped into Iraq following dramatic events in Damascus.
Amid questions over Maher's purported escape from Syria following the rebels' takeover of Damascus and his final destination, officials insist no such passage took place, amid a flurry of contradictory reports.
Brig. Gen. Muqdad Miri, spokesperson for the Iraqi Interior Ministry, described the claims as "completely unfounded", telling the state-run Iraqi News Agency (INA), "we urge media outlets to ensure accuracy and rely on official sources before publishing".
However, three separate security and political sources claimed to Al-Araby Al-Jadeed, °®Âþµº's Arabic-language sister publication, that Maher al-Assad spent a single night in Baghdad on Saturday—the same evening that Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) forces reportedly infiltrated Damascus—before travelling north to Sulaymaniyah in Iraq's Kurdistan Region.
According to these sources, his stay was orchestrated by an influential armed faction, beginning in Baghdad's upscale Jadriya district and culminating with his transfer to Kurdish territory. His current location remains unclear and TNA cannot independently verify the claims.
Saudi outlets Al-Arabiya and Al-Hadath went further in that Maher was hosted by Bafel Talabani, leader of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), a party that wields significant influence in Sulaymaniyah and maintains close border and ties with Iran. Yet PUK spokesperson Saadi Ahmed Pira dismissed the reports as baseless fabrications aimed at smearing the party.
"We refute those claims; it is a ridiculous lie," Pira told TNA by phone on Wednesday. "The PUK abides by the laws of Iraq and would never be involved in hosting Maher al-Assad. He has no historical or political ties to us. It is simply unthinkable that we would harbour a figure like him."
Pira alleged that the accusations formed part of a disinformation campaign driven by financial incentives: "These claims are fabricated, likely purchased by parties who want to defame the PUK."
"If Maher al-Assad entered Iraq at all, he would have come through Baghdad or KDP-controlled areas, not here, moreover, we have no interest in assisting Maher al-Assad," he added.
later claimed that Maher al-Assad and former Syrian National Security Bureau chief Ali Mamlouk are currently in Iraq's remote Qandil Mountain region, where they are said to be meeting with officers from Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and members of Lebanon's Hezbollah.
This area, near the Iranian and Turkish borders, is known for the presence of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), a banned organisation in Iraq. Such reports remain entirely unverified, and many observers question their credibility given the region's exposure to Turkish intelligence and military operations.
Mamlouk reportedly entered Lebanon legally before departing via Beirut's Rafic Hariri International Airport, according to the same sources. Other rumours place Maher al-Assad as far afield as Russia, referencing remarks by Rami Abdulrahman of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, though again no definitive evidence has emerged.
TNA also contacted Zagros Hiwa, spokesperson for the PKK, seeking clarity regarding the alleged meetings or transit, but as of publication no response had been received.
Iraqi political activist Ayham Rashad claimed that the Assad family maintains historic ties with various factions inside Iraq, including parties close to Iran. "Given these connections, it wouldn't be entirely surprising if Maher found some form of passage," he said. "But at this stage, all the reports are contradictory and speculative, the truth remains elusive."
Unconfirmed reports suggest Maher al-Assad was smuggled out of Deir az-Zour into Iraq last week by a Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) operative involved in cross-border smuggling.
According to these accounts, the transfer took place after Maher al-Assad reached an arrangement with certain SDF leaders, who had recently pulled back from several villages west of the Euphrates - abandoning heavy and advanced weaponry once held by the Fourth Division. However, the US-backed SDF has previously denied these claims.
For now, Iraqi and Kurdish officials stand by their denials. "These unfounded allegations serve no one," Pira insisted. "As time passes, I am certain the truth will surface, and it will confirm that the PUK has not - and would not - offer refuge to Maher al-Assad. Such claims are simply nonsense."