Why Syria’s President al-Shara’ to Skip Arab Summit in Iraq?

By Kardo Roj 

Syrian Transitional President Ahmad al-Shara’ will not attend the upcoming Arab League summit scheduled for next month in Baghdad, according to prominent Iraqi politician Izzat al-Shabandar.

Al-Shabandar told RT Arabic that al-Shara’ will be represented by Foreign Minister As’ad al-Shaybani, noting that Syria does not wish to complicate relations with Iraq.

However, sources indicate the real reason for al-Shara’s absence lies in continued legal concerns surrounding his past. A warrant for his arrest is reportedly still active in Iraq, over allegations that he supported militias involved in attacks on Iraqi civilians during the earlier phases of the Syrian conflict.

The Iraqi Islamic Dawa Party strongly objected to al-Shara’s invitation. In a statement, it said:

“Iraq aims for this summit to be a turning point in Arab unity and solidarity with Gaza, but we must ensure no participant is wanted by Iraqi or international courts for crimes against Iraqis.”

While acknowledging that the Arab League manages summit invitations, figures like Qais al-Khazali, head of Asa’ib Ahl al-Haq, warned that al-Shara’s attendance would be “premature” and could provoke fallout if the arrest warrant were acted upon.

Abu Ali al-Askari, security chief for Kata’ib Hezbollah, dismissed the need for al-Shara’s presence, saying:

“Arab summits have been held without Syria or Libya. The summit will not fail due to the absence of a condemned figure like al-Shara.”

Though al-Shara leads Syria’s transitional government following Bashar al-Assad’s fall, his international engagement remains restricted due to unresolved legal and political liabilities.