The officers are reportedly confined to Camp Taji, about 30 kilometres (18.6 miles) north of Baghdad, and were not permitted to move freely within Iraqi cities [Getty]
Iraqi authorities have imposed new restrictions preventing over 100 former Syrian regime officers and officials from leaving a military camp north of Baghdad, sources in Iraq’s capital told The New Arab‘s Arabic language edition Al-Araby Al-Jadeed.
The measure comes a week after Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Al-Shibani visited Baghdad and met Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani and other officials.
Approximately 130 senior officers and officials from the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad remain in Iraq after fleeing the country in December 2024, following the collapse of the Syrian regime.
This group is part of a larger contingent of 2,493 Syrian military personnel who crossed into Iraq through the Al-Qaim border crossing on 7-8 December 2024, surrendering their weapons and equipment to the Iraqi army.
While over 2,000 of those personnel have since voluntarily returned to Syria under coordination with Syrian authorities, a number of senior officers and officials refused to return and were relocated to an Iraqi army camp north of Baghdad that includes dedicated residential facilities.
On Sunday, two senior Iraqi defence officials confirmed that the Syrian officers are now barred from leaving the camp.
“The Syrian officers will not be allowed to leave the base where they are being held as their presence in Iraq is not of a civilian nature,” one official in the Iraqi defence ministry said.
While their movement is restricted, their essential needs, such as food, clothing and medical care, were being provided, the source added.
Another Iraqi official dismissed reports suggesting that the officers were involved in activities inside Iraq or connected to recent attacks on Syria’s coastal region.
The official said that the officers were confined to Camp Taji, about 30 kilometres (18.6 miles) north of Baghdad, and were not permitted to move freely within Iraqi cities.
Iraqi authorities have reportedly informed the officers that they were free to leave Iraq for any country willing to grant them entry visas or to return to Syria if they choose. However, until they make such arrangements, they will remain confined to the camp.
Syrian military officers in Baghdad
Last month, Iraqi Defence Minister Thabet al-Abbasi acknowledged for the first time that 130 Syrian military officers were still present in Baghdad.
He said that these individuals had refused to return to Syria following the fall of Assad’s regime and were currently housed in a secure location.
Abbasi added that while Iraq had given them the option to return or remain in Iraq, they continued to refuse repatriation.
He further noted that Iraq was seeking a legal solution for the Syrian officers and confirmed that there had been no official communication between the Iraqi and Syrian defence ministries regarding the matter.
Most of the remaining officers are reportedly senior commanders from Syria’s 4th and 5th divisions, along with members of Syrian intelligence and security services. Some have requested to bring their families to Iraq, but Baghdad has yet to respond to such requests.
Iraqi political analyst Ahmad Al-Nuaimi suggested that the new restrictions may be linked to last week’s visit by Syrian foreign minister Al-Shibani.
He noted that Baghdad was committed to distancing itself from involvement in Syria’s internal affairs.
“These officers have now become a burden on the Iraqi government, especially given the regional consensus supporting Syria’s transitional phase,” Al-Nuaimi said.
He described the decision as “important for dispelling rumours that Iraq was playing a destabilising role in Syria”.
