40,000 import trucks: Iraq PM visits Syria to boost trade

Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi arrived in Syria just before noon on Wednesday, October 28.

This marks the first official visit by an Iraqi head of government to Damascus since the collapse of the Assad regime in 2024. Zaidi is leading a high-level delegation, though Baghdad has provided limited details regarding the specific agenda. State media indicated that security and counter-terrorism measures are expected to be central topics of discussion.

Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa outlined economic priorities in an interview with Iraq’s Dijlah TV, reported by the Syrian state news agency SANA on October 28. He cited a historic opportunity to deepen cooperation and strengthen state institutions. Sharaa emphasized the strategic importance of Syria as a trade corridor for Iraq, specifically pointing to the link between Iraq’s Faw Port and Syria’s Mediterranean port of Tartous. He called for the reconstruction of oil pipelines connecting Iraq to the Baniyas port. Iraqi oil has flowed through Syria during recent disruptions in the Iran trade.

SANA reported that commercial traffic between the two nations has risen sharply over the past six to seven months. The Syrian president cited figures of more than 100,000 transit trucks and 40,000 import and export trucks moving across the border. Sharaa also expressed support for Zaidi’s efforts to combat corruption and bring armed groups under state authority. He stated that the decision of war and peace must remain in the hands of the state, arguing that competing military organizations undermine national institutions.

Border security remains a point of contention. On Tuesday, Sharaa declared the border between the two countries to be completely secure. However, recent tensions with Jordan cast a shadow over this assessment. Jordan conducted an airstrike on ISIS targets in Syria, an operation that Damascus says killed several civilians. The incident illustrates the continuing friction over cross-border military operations.

Sharaa’s personal history in Iraq adds a complex dimension to the diplomatic relationship. According to SANA, he stated that he traveled to Iraq in 2003 out of solidarity and duty. He explained that he entered prison around 2005 and returned to Syria in 2011 after his release. He noted that he did not participate in the sectarian conflicts that plagued Iraq during that period. Iraqi officials view the groups with which Sharaa associated as controversial, as many are considered terrorist organizations by Baghdad.

The visit comes as both nations seek to stabilize their shared border, a corridor that has historically served as a route for trade and insurgencies. Geography continues to shape the security and commerce of the region, linking the two economies through desert routes and river valleys.