Sources: Al-Shar'a Requests U.S. Guarantees to Attend Baghdad Summit
May 6, 2025, 4:17 pm

Sources: Al-Shar'a Requests U.S. Guarantees to Attend Baghdad Summit

أحمد الشرع

An official government source revealed on Monday that Syrian interim President Ahmad Al-Shar'a has demanded explicit U.S. guarantees to attend the upcoming Arab Summit scheduled in Baghdad, despite guarantees provided by the Iraqi government for this purpose.

The source told Shafaq News Agency that "Baghdad has offered several assurances to secure Al-Shar'a's visit to the summit, but the Syrian administration considers them insufficient," explaining that Al-Shar'a requested a U.S. guarantee that includes security protection by American security companies, fearing he could be targeted during his presence in Iraq.

The source noted that Qatar, which played a role in arranging Al-Shar'a's meeting with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani in Qatar, supports his participation in Iraq but lacks the capacity to provide security protection through American security companies.

Additionally, the source pointed out that Iran’s silence regarding Al-Shar'a’s visit has raised concerns on his part, emphasizing that his attendance at the summit is largely linked to the security measures that will be taken.

The official Iraqi invitation for Al-Shar'a to attend the summit on May 17, 2025, in Baghdad comes amid widespread political controversy. Political forces have expressed varying opinions between supporters and opponents, especially after his previous meeting with leaders from the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) in Qatar, which sparked significant controversy due to a warrant issued against him for his past affiliation with Al-Qaeda in Iraq.

In this context, Iraqi legal expert Mohammed Jumaa confirmed that "Al-Shar'a, as the President of the Republic, enjoys legal immunity, and Iraq cannot prosecute him for any past or future issues according to Iraqi and international laws, which enhances the chances of his attendance without legal repercussions."

In another development, the Coordination Framework, during its recent meeting, delegated the Prime Minister to decide on inviting Al-Shar'a to attend or not, considering the matter as protocol-related. SeveralFramework leaders, including Ammar Al-Hakim and Hadi Al-Ameri, have expressed support for Al-Shar'a’s official attendance, despite some blocs opposing it.

Baghdad aims to hold the Arab summit with the presence of Arab leaders and presidents amid international and regional anticipation. The Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein announced that the summit would be held on May 17, 2025, according to the pre-announced schedule.

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