Al-Zaidi Visits Syria to Finalize Pipeline Deal

Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi arrived in Damascus on Wednesday to meet with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa. This marks the first visit by an Iraqi head of government to Syria since Bashar al-Assad stepped down from power. The two leaders focused their discussions on expanding economic cooperation and strengthening bilateral ties.

The primary objective of the summit was to finalize plans for exporting Iraqi crude through the Baniyas pipeline. According to the Iraqi News Agency, the leaders agreed to increase the volume of oil flowing through this corridor. They also committed to joint efforts to develop the agricultural sector, aiming for deeper food and economic integration between the two nations.

The diplomatic push follows a period of increased energy trade between the neighbors. Iraq began sending limited quantities of oil through Syrian territory after the start of the US-led conflict with Iran. In July, the governments signed agreements to revive the Haditha Baniyas pipeline. They also reached a memorandum of understanding with a consortium of three firms to manage the project, including American energy giant Chevron.

Al-Zaidi emphasized the cultural and political bond between the two states during the meeting. He described the Iraqi and Syrian people as one entity divided by borders. His remarks called for unified positions on regional issues and enhanced security cooperation to promote stability in the Middle East.

President al-Sharaa welcomed the delegation and expressed appreciation for the visit. He stated that Syria seeks to raise the level of collaboration with Iraq to its highest potential. The two officials previously met in New York last September on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, where they discussed political coordination and trade expansion.

The next step in this process involves the operational execution of the pipeline agreements signed in July. Iraqi and Syrian officials will work to implement the technical and logistical frameworks required to boost daily export volumes through the Baniyas line.