Assad urges normalization: reception for Iraqi prime minister At least four dead after flash floods in US state of Pennsylvania

Long-isolated Syrian President Bashar al-Assad continues his return to the circle of regional neighbors. On Sunday, he received Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed al-Sudani in the capital Damascus, government authorities in both countries said. It was the first visit by an Iraqi government leader to Syria in more than a decade. Assad, whose country was restored to the Arab League in May, described sentiment in the region as “relatively positive”.

The neighboring countries of Syria and Iraq are separated by a border about 600 kilometers long. Years ago, the terrorist militia Islamic State (IS) controlled about a third of Syria and about 40 percent of Iraq. The jihadists have been considered militarily defeated since 2017, but IS cells continue to carry out attacks in both countries. “Security remains the main concern,” Al-Sudani said at the meeting. “We need more coordination at the level of security authorities, especially in border areas.”

Assad said the two also discussed drug trafficking. International researchers now rank Syria as one of the world’s largest manufacturers of amphetamine tablets, marketed under the name Captagon. They see that Assad’s close circle is heavily involved in the production and smuggling of the drugs.

Assad was severely isolated internationally for more than a decade. His government brutally suppressed protests in Syria in 2011 and took extreme measures against its own people in the ensuing civil war, which continues to this day. Assad rarely appeared in public and only officially traveled to the allied countries of Russia and Iran. In the meantime, however, Assad has again visited the United Arab Emirates, Oman and most recently Saudi Arabia for the Arab League summit. (sda/dpa)