Iraq’s ex-PM Nouri al-Maliki: Assad regime supported ISIS

Former Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki recently claimed that former Bashar al-Assad’s regime in Syria had trained Islamic State (ISIS) militants in Syria before they were deployed against Iraq.

He alleged that he had personally warned Assad that his regime would ultimately suffer the consequences of supporting the terrorist group, but Assad ignored the warning.

“Syria under Basharr Assad was training, equipping and sending the terrorists and the killers to Iraq. I went in a special mission on this issue and met with Bashar al-Assad […] I foresaw the future and said you [Assad] will be the first one to pay the price of that,” he said in an interview with Iraq’s Al-Dijla Television.

“They tried to deny that ISIS have camps in Syria, I brought photos with me and said these are the photos depicting ISIS are being trained in your camps,” he added. 

His remarks reignited heated debates over regional security dynamics and Iraq’s political future, particularly as the country prepares for parliamentary elections later this year. Iraqi politicians, including al-Maliki, have been making frequent media appearances, often making controversial claims, which commentators say is part of early campaigning strategies.

Al-Maliki, who leads the State of Law Coalition, also claimed that efforts to divide Iraq were already underway. He linked these developments to Israel’s broader vision of redrawing the Middle East’s borders, which, he alleges, includes the partition of Iraq.

“There are people in Iraq who openly call for a repeat of the Syrian scenario, where they overthrew Bashar al-Assad’s regime,” he said. “These calls are a prelude to separation, the establishment of federal regions, or even alternatives to federalism in Iraq.”

He argued that Shia political factions have historically worked to maintain Iraq’s unity but warned that if the country were to fragment, “the Shia would control the oil for themselves.”

He also extended “an olive branch to all sides” for the upcoming political phase, including to his longtime rival, Shia cleric Muqtada al-Sadr.

Claims about foreign influence

In addition to his accusations against Assad, al-Maliki alleged that foreign states were backing efforts to restore Iraq’s ousted Baath Party to power. He claimed that the party still has 270,000 active members in Iraq.

During a separate interview with Al-Sharqiya Satellite Channel on Monday, al-Maliki said he had not yet entered into any political alliances, as all parties were waiting for the Iraqi parliament to amend the country’s election law. He also predicted that voter turnout in the upcoming elections would be around 30 percent.

Sardar Aziz, a Kurdish political analyst, told The New Arab that al-Maliki’s remarks could be part of early political manoeuvring ahead of Iraq’s anticipated parliamentary elections.

When asked whether the elections might be postponed, Aziz noted that Iraq remains relatively stable but warned of potential international pressure should any delay occur. “If Iraq were to postpone elections, Washington would likely react strongly,” he said. “We’ve already seen Trump criticise Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for not holding elections during wartime. If Trump insists on elections in Ukraine, how would he respond if Iraq delayed its own?”

Divided reactions

Al-Maliki’s comments have drawn criticism from political rivals. Iraqi politician Zafir Al-Ani indirectly rebuked him in a post on the X platform, formerly Twitter, suggesting that the push for partition was being driven by factions aligned with Iran.

“It is not surprising that calls for Iraq’s division come from parties close to Iran,” al-Ani wrote. “Tehran may have realised that maintaining total dominance over Iraq will be difficult in the coming phase, so it is settling for partial control rather than losing everything, as it did in Syria.”

He warned that such proposals could backfire politically. “These ideas will put their advocates in direct confrontation with their own supporters because a united Iraq is not just a political slogan but a deeply rooted sentiment among its people.”

Al-Maliki’s comments come amid broader discussions about Iraq‘s future governance structure. The country operates under a power-sharing system, with the presidency allocated to a Kurd, the prime ministership to a Shia, and the parliamentary speakership to a Sunni. However, Shia parties, particularly those aligned with Iran, continue to wield significant influence over the government.

The Iraqi Kurdistan Region remains the country’s only recognised federal region, following a failed 2017 independence referendum. More recently, Sunni politicians have been pushing for their own federal region in Iraq‘s western and northern provinces, bordering Syria.

As Iraq grapples with ongoing political tensions and external pressures, al-Maliki’s claims add to the growing uncertainty over the country’s future governance and territorial integrity.