US Secretary of State Antony Blinken made an unannounced visit to Iraq on Friday to meet with Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani as the international community grapples with the implications of the Syrian government’s collapse.
Blinken's meeting with Sudani in Baghdad comes as part of a series of discussions in Turkey and Jordan to coordinate an approach to Syria following the sudden fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime to rebel forces last weekend.
During the meeting, Blinken emphasized the importance of ensuring that any interim government in Syria prevents the country from being used as a base for terrorism, extremism, or posing a threat to its neighbors, including the risk of aligning with groups like ISIS. He highlighted the potential for ISIS to regroup in the region.
The visit follows a recent assessment of the anti-ISIS mission in Iraq and Syria by the top US military commander for the Middle East. Additionally, two senior State Department officials were in Baghdad ahead of Blinken's visit.
The US is closely monitoring Iranian-backed militias in Iraq, which have previously targeted US personnel and interests. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan warned of the possibility that these militias could exploit the instability in Syria for their own agenda.
Blinken's visit to Baghdad aimed to reaffirm the US commitment to the strategic partnership with Iraq and the country's security, stability, and sovereignty. The discussions also focused on regional security challenges and opportunities, as well as the enduring US support for engaging with all communities in Syria to facilitate an inclusive transition.
