The Iraqi parliament hosted Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al Sudani on Wednesday in a closed session to discuss the government's measures amid growing concern over the escalating situation in the region, particularly in neighbouring Syria.
Last week, the extremist rebel group Hayat Tahrir Al Sham and its allies launched a lightning offensive against government troops, taking over Aleppo province in north-western Syria. They are now advancing on the central city of Hama in the most significant challenge to the regime's survival in years. Hundreds have been killed on both sides while about 50,000 people have been displaced amid intense fighting.
The parliament hosted Mr Al Sudani on his request to “discuss the government policies and measures taken to address the ongoing challenges and regional developments,” the government said.
Deputy PM and Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein, Deputy PM and Planning Minister Mohammed Tamim and the Minister of Interior Abdul Amir Al Shammari also attended the session, the Prime Minister's office confirmed.
"They presented a briefing on foreign policies and government measures to confront all challenges and the progress in implementing the government program," it said.
After the session, lawmaker Yousif Al Kilaby said the parliament "authorises the Prime Minister, the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, to take all decisions that preserve Iraqi national security, particularly on the issue of Syria".
"In the time of crisis, the Iraqi people are one, Shiites, Sunnis and Kurds as well as all the spectrums of the Iraqi people," Mr Al Kilaby said without elaborating.
The escalation in Syria came against the backdrop of the continuing war in Gaza, which was sparked by a Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on October 7 last year that killed about 1,200 people. More than 44,500 Palestinians in Israel's offensive since then. About 100 Israeli captives are still being held in Gaza, one third of whom are believed to be dead. The events in Syria also followed the announcement of the fragile ceasefire in Lebanon between Israel and Hezbollah.
Since then, Iraq has raised the alarm among its security troops and increased security measures by sending more troops to the borders with Syria. Iraq has increased efforts in recent years to secure its borders after ISIS took over about a third of Syria and 40 per cent of Iraq in 2014. The country, whose border with Syria is more than 600km long, has built a wall and dug a trench in some areas. That has been fortified with an integrated monitoring system, which includes fences, a concrete wall and 24-hour thermal surveillance cameras.
On Tuesday, Mr Al Sudani voiced concern over the unfolding events in Syria in a phone call with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
During the call, he informed Mr Erdogan that Iraq “will not remain a spectator to the grave consequences in Syria, particularly the ethnic cleansing of various communities and sects”, according to the official readout.
“Iraq has previously suffered from terrorism and the repercussions of extremist groups controlling areas in Syria and will not allow such events to be repeated,” it said. Mr Al Sudani underscored the importance of respecting Syria’s sovereignty and unity, pledging Iraq’s efforts to ensure the security of both nations.
He underlined that Islamic countries should “avoid internal divisions, and what is happening in Syria today benefits the Zionist entity which has deliberately hit Syrian army positions, paving the way for terrorist groups to seize additional areas in Syria”, he said, referring to recent Israeli strikes inside Syria.
