In Baghdad, the decision to extend an invitation to Ahmad al-Sharaa, the newly installed President of Syria, for the upcoming Arab League summit has sparked intense political debates within Iraq.
Al-Sharaa climbed to power following a swift offensive that resulted in the removal of Bashar Assad in December. As the new leader, he has worked towards presenting himself as a diplomatic leader focused on uniting and reconstructing Syria after nearly 14 years of relentless civil conflict. Despite this, his history as a Sunni Islamist fighter rings alarm bells, particularly among Shiite factions in Iraq.
Formerly operating under the alias Abu Mohammed al-Golani, al-Sharaa participated with al-Qaida insurgents against U.S. forces post the 2003 U.S.-led invasion of Iraq. Due to these past actions, he still faces charges of terrorism in Iraq. Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani confirmed Iraq’s extension of a formal invitation to al-Sharaa for the May 17 summit after an undisclosed meeting in Qatar, though al-Sharaa’s acceptance remains unconfirmed.
Balancing strong connections with the U.S. and Iran, Iraq strives to position itself as a key negotiator in regional conflicts. It has previously facilitated dialogues between Iran and Saudi Arabia, contributing to the normalization of their ties. Hosting al-Sharaa is seen by many Iraqi and regional figures as a step further in promoting Baghdad’s diplomatic credibility.
Nonetheless, al-Sharaa’s invitation has been met with significant resistance from influential Shiite groups allied with Iran. Of note, Iran, a supporter of Assad during the Syrian war, exploited Syria as a route for weapon transfers to Hezbollah in Lebanon and was notably affected by Assad’s deposition.
Numerous Iraqi Shiite militias supported Assad’s regime during the internal turmoil following the 2011 oppressive movements against democracy, rendering al-Sharaa a contentious persona for them. Mustafa Sand, a parliament member from the Coordination Framework—a coalition led by Iran-friendly factions instrumental in al-Sudani’s rise to power—acknowledged in a video that the Iraqi foreign ministry consulted the Supreme Judicial Council about an active arrest warrant for al-Sharaa, which was confirmed to exist. A security official, under anonymity, validated the warrant’s authenticity.
The Islamic Dawa Party, led by ex-Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, emphasized that summit attendees should possess untainted judicial records globally and locally, stressing the gravity of crimes against Iraqis. In contrast, Abu Ali Al-Askari, a Kataib Hezbollah spokesperson, dismissed the significance of al-Sharaa’s presence at such summits.
In contrast, Sunni political factions advocate for al-Sharaa’s participation. Dhafir Al-Ani, a notable Sunni leader, supports Iraq’s effort in forging relations with Syria’s new leadership, indicating that barring al-Sharaa would undermine the Iraqi government’s credibility.
Despite the controversy, the Iraqi government has not issued any comments regarding the objections. Although a valid arrest warrant exists, it doesn’t necessarily prevent al-Sharaa’s summit participation as countries can overlook such stipulations. After Assad’s regime collapsed, the U.S. retracted a financial reward previously set for al-Sharaa’s apprehension, despite not formally acknowledging the new Syrian regime.
The unfolding situation underscores the profound political divides within Iraq’s governance and poses challenges to its aspirations for national reconciliation. “For some, inviting al-Sharaa dishonors the memory of Iraqi victims, while Sunni groups see it as a political triumph,” explained Munaf Al-Musawi, a strategic political analyst in Baghdad. “These conflicting views risk reigniting sectarian conflicts.”