Syria and Iraq discuss water coordination in Euphrates basin

Syrian Energy Minister Mohammed al-Bashir met with an Iraqi delegation from the Ministry of Water Resources in Damascus on November 1, 2026. The discussions focused on enhancing bilateral water cooperation and improving coordination regarding the Euphrates River basin.

According to a statement from the Syrian Ministry of Energy, the two sides emphasized expanding technical cooperation and exchanging expertise and information related to water resources. The meeting aimed to strengthen joint efforts to address shared interests in the region.

The Iraqi delegation was led by Hussein Abdul Amir Bakka, the technical undersecretary of the Ministry of Water Resources, and included officials from the General Commission for Dams and Reservoirs and the National Center for Water Resources Management. The Syrian side was represented by Osama Abu Zaid, Assistant Minister of Energy for Water and Electricity.

This meeting follows previous efforts to manage shared water resources amid challenges such as drought and declining water levels in the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. In June, the two countries signed a joint technical protocol for water resource management and data exchange, while also discussing preparations for trilateral technical meetings involving Syria, Iraq, and Turkey.