Al Shara and Al Zaidi hold first meeting as Syria and Iraq look to turn page

Syrian President Ahmad Al Shara and Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Al Zaidi have held their first meeting at the UN General Assembly in New York, as <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/news/mena/2026/08/07/syria-iraq-zaiidi-baniyas/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" title="https://www.thenationalnews.com/news/mena/2026/08/07/syria-iraq-zaiidi-baniyas/">Baghdad and Damascus reset ties</a>. The relationship between the two countries has shifted, particularly in recent months, from deep mistrust to pragmatic co-operation since Bashar Al Assad was ousted from the Syrian presidency in late 2024. The start of the Iran war in February, rising regional tension and US pressure have pushed the two countries towards strengthening ties. The first meeting between Mr Al Shara and Mr Al Zaidi was welcomed by Tom Barrack, the US special envoy to both Syria and Iraq. “Guided by leadership and bound by a shared vision – Iraq and Syria weave together a tapestry of co-operation, stability, and shared prosperity for their peoples,” he said.