Iraqi Intelligence Chief: Our Stance on Supporting Assad is Clear, and Baghdad’s Messages to Damascus are Direct and Transparent
Iraqi Intelligence Chief, Hamid Al-Shatri, revealed that there are 9,000 members of the “ISIS” organization in prisons in Al-Hasakah, Syria, including 2,000 Iraqis. He also mentioned the presence of ISIS cells in areas of the Homs and Sham deserts. This came during his participation in the “Baghdad Dialogue” conference, which addressed security issues in the region.
Mutual Impact Between Iraq and Syria
Al-Shatri explained that what happens in Syria directly affects Iraq, pointing out that the Iraqi and Syrian arenas are closely interconnected. He added that Baghdad had sent messages to Damascus regarding the security threats posed by some extremist groups, particularly concerning suicide bombers and smuggled drugs crossing the borders.
Did Baghdad Support Assad?
Al-Shatri confirmed that Iraq was not keen on supporting Bashar Al-Assad’s regime in Syria, but was more interested in knowing the alternatives in case the situation changed. He pointed out that Baghdad pays particular attention to combating ISIS cells, considering areas such as the Homs and Sham deserts still witness activity from the organization, which seized Syrian army weapons after the regime’s fall, along with other armed groups.
Issues Related to the Syrian People
Al-Shatri added that Iraq informed the Syrian side of its concern regarding how the new Syrian administration would deal with the various components of the Syrian people, such as the Kurds, Shiites, and Alawites, who are intertwined with the Iraqi people. He called for clarity on how all factions of the population would be treated within the political system that will be led by Al-Shara in the future after the stabilization of the country.
