Iraqi PM Ali al-Zaidi visits Syria to bolster economic and security ties

Ali al-Zaidi Ahmed al-Sharaa Iraq-Syria relations Baniyas pipeline energy cooperation

Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi arrived in Damascus on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, for a historic visit to meet Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa. This marks the first visit by an Iraqi prime minister to Syria since the fall of the previous government in December 2024.

The leaders held discussions focused on strengthening bilateral relations, with a priority on economic, energy, and security cooperation. Key topics included the export of Iraqi oil through the Baniyas pipeline, reviving the Haditha-Baniyas pipeline project, and enhancing trade through shared border crossings. President al-Sharaa expressed support for connecting Iraq’s Al-Faw port to Syria’s Tartus port to facilitate regional trade.

On the security front, the delegations discussed border control, counter-terrorism, and combating smuggling to ensure regional stability. Additionally, al-Zaidi conducted a religious visit to the Umayyad Mosque and the Sayyida Zeinab shrine, where he announced a personal donation of $10 million—split equally between the two sites—to support their needs.

Entities

Ahmed al-Sharaa · Ali al-Zaidi · Chevron · Damascus · Iraq · Syria

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[● 5 SOURCES] This is the first visit by an Iraqi Prime Minister to Syria since the fall of the previous government in December 2024. www.syrianow.net · www.aljazeera.com · bahamasspectator.com · ch23.com · www.newarab.com
[● 11 SOURCES] Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi visited Damascus to meet Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa. www.syria24.news · www.syrianow.net · www.aljazeera.com · bahamasspectator.com · www.q8news.com · +6 more
[● 3 SOURCES] Iraq and Syria signed agreements last July to revive the Haditha-Baniyas pipeline. www.aljazeera.com · bahamasspectator.com · antiguatribune.com
[● 3 SOURCES] A memorandum of understanding was signed with a consortium including Chevron to implement the pipeline project. www.aljazeera.com · bahamasspectator.com · antiguatribune.com
[● 7 SOURCES] Al-Sharaa and al-Zaidi previously met in September at the UN General Assembly in New York. www.syria24.news · www.syrianow.net · www.aljazeera.com · bahamasspectator.com · www.q8news.com · +2 more
[● 3 SOURCES] The leaders discussed the export of Iraqi oil through the Baniyas pipeline. www.aljazeera.com · bahamasspectator.com · antiguatribune.com
[● 2 SOURCES] Over 100,000 transit trucks and 40,000 import/export trucks moved between the two countries in the last 6 to 7 months. www.syrianow.net · www.arabnews.pk
[● 2 SOURCES] President al-Sharaa supports connecting Iraq’s Al-Faw port to Syria’s Tartus port. www.syrianow.net · www.arabnews.pk