Iraq, Syria discuss ‘safe return’ of fleeing regime soldiers

Iraq has contacted the new government in Syria to facilitate the “safe” return of hundreds of Syrian regime soldiers who had fled into Iraq following the regime’s fall last week, an Iraqi government official said.

The official said the soldiers were placed in temporary camps in a desert area near the border with Syria, noting that Prime Minister Mohammed Al-Sudani has communicated with the new Syrian government to organise and schedule their return to their country.

According to the official, Iraqi security forces received strict directives to protect the borders with Syria, adding that senior security and military officials were deployed to the Anbar Governorate to supervise and follow up on securing the Iraqi border with Syria.

The official said the entry of the soldiers was approved by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and was upon the Iraqi prime minister’s approval, noting that a majority of them have asked to return to Syria.

Member of the Parliament’s Security and Defence Committee, Ali Al-Bandawi, said Iraq’s communications with the Syrian side stems from dealing “humanely” with soldiers and civilians who fled danger after the regime’s collapse.

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