Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa has announced he will not attend the Arab League Summit in Baghdad this weekend, following controversy sparked by Iraq's invitation to the former rebel-turned-leader, whose return to Iraq, where he fought and was imprisoned, raised concerns.
Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa has announced that he will not attend the Arab League Summit in Baghdad this weekend. Iraq's invitation has sparked controversy over the potential return of the former rebel leader to a country where he once fought and was imprisoned.
According to Syrian state television, Sharaa will be replaced by Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani, who will lead Syria’s delegation. The main topics of the summit will include Gaza reconstruction and the Palestinian issue.
Sharaa’s decision reflects the mixed results of Syria’s regional relations following the ouster of President Bashar al-Assad last year. Sharaa has rapidly strengthened ties with Sunni-majority Gulf Arab states, particularly Saudi Arabia and Qatar, but has been more cautious with countries like Iraq, which has a Shiite-majority population.
Sharaa fought with Al-Qaeda in Iraq after the U.S. invasion in 2003 and was imprisoned for more than five years before being released in 2011. After his release, he established Al-Qaeda’s branch in Syria, which later evolved into the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham group in 2016. This group eventually became one of the main forces fighting against Assad’s regime.
Politicians have viewed Sharaa’s absence from the summit as a step toward Iraq distancing itself from Iran and fostering stronger ties with the Arab world. However, analysts have pointed out that tensions remain over Iraq’s move away from Iran and its deeper cooperation with Syria.
Some Syrians have expressed concern that Sharaa could face danger in Iraq. They believe that Iraq's critics, along with Syrian intelligence services, will take these threats seriously.
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