Blinken’s Surprise Visit to Iraq Amid Uncertainty over Post-Assad Syria

On December 13, Secretary of State Antony Blinken unexpectedly visited Baghdad, Iraq, aiming to foster regional stability following Bashar al-Assad’s recent ouster in neighboring Syria.

During his visit, Blinken met with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani.

The two officials discussed the path forward for Syria post-Assad, focusing on safeguarding ethnic and religious minorities and striving for “an inclusive, non-sectarian government.”

Blinken noted that both he and Sudani underscored the importance of preventing Syria from devolving into “a platform for terrorism.”

Assad’s exit was triggered by a sudden insurgent assault that commenced in late November, advancing from northwestern Syria into the capital, Damascus.

Hayʼat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a Sunni Islamist group that emerged from the Syrian branch of al-Qaeda and categorized as a terrorist organization by the United States, played a pivotal role in the unexpected offensive that disrupted Assad’s loyalist forces, compelling him to flee to Russia.

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Following Assad’s decision to exit Syria, HTS has established a transitional government, appointing Mohammed al-Bashir as interim prime minister until March 1, 2025.

In his initial comments after Assad’s departure, U.S. President Joe Biden mentioned that his administration is keeping a close watch on the behavior of the rebel factions.

“They’re saying the right things now, but as they take on greater responsibility, we will evaluate not just their words, but their actions,” Biden stated.

HTS is among various factions that have engaged in conflict against Assad and amongst themselves for power throughout the ongoing Syrian civil war, a complex situation that has persisted since 2011.

Concerns have been raised by the U.S. and other international observers about the involvement of other terrorist organizations in the power struggles over the past 13 years.

During this turmoil, ISIS, also known as Daesh, gained prominence in Iraq and Syria, attempting to assert territorial control across the region.

The United States has collaborated with Iraq and partner forces to dismantle ISIS and eliminate its territorial claims.

“We are committed to ensuring that Daesh cannot resurface,” Blinken remarked after his discussions with the Iraqi prime minister.

Blinken Meets With Counterparts

Turkey has further complicated the situation in Syria over the years, notably through its backing of the Syrian National Army (SNA).

The country aims to create a security buffer zone along its border with Syria and has partnered with the SNA to achieve this goal.

Turkey’s security interests include concerns over Kurdish militant groups operating in northern and eastern Syria.

Kurdish militias such as the YPG and YPJ are also key components of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which the United States has supported during the recent conflict in Syria.

Turkey asserts that organizations like the YPG are essentially the same as the PKK, which both Turkey and the U.S. have classified as a terrorist organization.

While HTS led the offensive towards Damascus, the SDF has reported renewed clashes with Turkey and its SNA allies.

During a press call on December 10, White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby stated that Turkey has legitimate counterterrorism concerns in Syria, and the U.S. will communicate on managing their conflicting interests.

Blinken had an earlier meeting with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan on December 13, prior to departing for Baghdad.

“We discussed actions to prevent terrorist groups—Daesh and PKK—from exploiting the situation, which are critical priorities.”

Blinken also met with Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi on December 12, where they discussed the situation in post-Assad Syria.

The U.S. secretary of state also engaged with his Turkish and Jordanian counterparts earlier this week regarding advancements in a ceasefire for the Gaza Strip, amid prolonged hostilities between Israel and Hamas.

Reuters contributed to this report.