Sudani: Iraq Supports Palestinian State on its Historical Soil

Sudani received Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa in Baghdad (government media)
Sudani received Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa in Baghdad (government media)
TT

Sudani: Iraq Supports Palestinian State on its Historical Soil

Sudani received Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa in Baghdad (government media)
Sudani received Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa in Baghdad (government media)

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammad Shiaa Al-Sudani renewed his country’s support for “the State of Palestine on its historical soil.”
During a meeting on Thursday in Baghdad with Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa, Sudani emphasized “Iraq’s firm and principled stance towards the Palestinian issue”, reiterating “support for Palestine and the continuation of its independent state on its historical soil.”
The Iraqi premier criticized the international community’s inability to stop the brutal crimes committed against the Palestinians and the disregard of international agreements and laws.
He reiterated “Iraq’s readiness to deliver all forms of support to our Palestinian people, despite the obstacles hindering the delivery of food and humanitarian relief supplies, as well as large quantities of fuel that amounted to 10 million barrels...”
For his part, Mustafa praised the Iraqi stance, expressing the Palestinian people’s appreciation for the Iraqi government’s efforts and its pioneering initiatives in sending aid and fuel to Palestine.
“History will not forget the sacrifices of the Iraqis for the sake of Palestine and its just cause,” he said, praising “the progress Iraq is witnessing at various levels, and its growing position as a strong actor in promoting international and regional security and stability.”
According to a statement by the Iraqi government, the two officials discussed the situation in Palestine, the war in Gaza and the “bloody massacres and genocide committed by the brutal occupation.”
They also reviewed challenges facing the Palestinian government, the urgent humanitarian needs, and the difficult humanitarian and service conditions in Gaza.
Locally, Sudani downplayed the threat of terrorism represented by ISIS, compared to the “greater threat of corruption.”
Addressing the first forum of Iraqi governorate councils and offices on Thursday, he said: “We stress the importance of supporting the supervisory, legislative, and policy-making roles of governorate councils, to guarantee an environment that limits corruption.”
According to a statement by the Iraqi government, the forum, which was held in coordination with the Integrity Commission, aims to activate the supervisory role of the provincial councils in line with the government’s priorities to fight corruption.

 

 

 



Türkiye’s Foreign Minister Meets HTS Leader in Damascus

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan speaks during a joint press conference with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken at the Ministry headquarters in the Turkish capital Ankara Friday, Dec. 13, 2024. (AP)
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan speaks during a joint press conference with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken at the Ministry headquarters in the Turkish capital Ankara Friday, Dec. 13, 2024. (AP)
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Türkiye’s Foreign Minister Meets HTS Leader in Damascus

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan speaks during a joint press conference with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken at the Ministry headquarters in the Turkish capital Ankara Friday, Dec. 13, 2024. (AP)
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan speaks during a joint press conference with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken at the Ministry headquarters in the Turkish capital Ankara Friday, Dec. 13, 2024. (AP)

Türkiye’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan met with Syria's de facto leader Ahmed al-Sharaa in Damascus on Sunday, Türkiye’s foreign ministry said, without providing further details.

Photographs and footage shared by the ministry showed Fidan and Sharaa, leader of the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham group, which led the operation to topple Bashar al-Assad two weeks ago, walking ahead of a crowded delegation before posing for photographs.

The two are also seen shaking hands, hugging, and smiling.

On Friday, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said that Türkiye would help Syria's new administration form a state structure and draft a new constitution, adding Fidan would head to Damascus to discuss this new structure, without providing a date.

Ibrahim Kalin, the head of Türkiye’s MIT intelligence agency, also visited Damascus on Dec. 12, four days after Assad's fall.

Ankara had for years backed opposition fighters looking to oust Assad and welcomed the end of his family's brutal five-decade rule after a 13-year civil war. Türkiye also hosts millions of Syrian migrants it hopes will start returning home after Assad's fall, and has vowed to help rebuild Syria.

Fidan's visit comes amid fighting in northeast Syria between Türkiye-backed Syrian fighters and the Kurdish YPG militia, which spearheads the US-allied Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in the northeast and Ankara regards as a terrorist organization.

Earlier, Türkiye’s defense minister said Ankara believed that Syria's new leadership, including the Syrian National Army (SNA) armed group which Ankara backs, will drive YPG fighters from all territory they occupy in the northeast.

Ankara, alongside Syrian allies, has mounted several cross-border offensives against the Kurdish faction in northern Syria and controls swathes of Syrian territory along the border, while repeatedly demanding that its NATO ally Washington halts support for the Kurdish fighters.

The SDF has been on the back foot since Assad's fall, with the threat of advances from Ankara and Türkiye-backed groups as it looks to preserve political gains made in the last 13 years, and with Syria's new rulers being friendly to Ankara.