Iraq will not grant asylum to Assad's soldiers and officers fleeing to it

Official Iraqi sources in the capital, Baghdad, revealed the fate of soldiers and officers from the Syrian army who entered Iraqi territory hours before the fall of Bashar Al-Assad’s regime to Al-Araby Al-Jadeed, confirming that their number is close to 3,000 soldiers and officers of different ranks.

Iraq officially announced, last Saturday, that it would host hundreds of Syrian soldiers fleeing the battles, who were supposed to be returned by plane to Damascus, but the fall of Bashar Al-Assad’s regime led to postponing their deportation until now.

The Mayor of Al-Qa’im city, where the Syrian soldiers are located, west of the Anbar Governorate, Turki Mohammad, said in an exclusive interview with Al-Araby Al-Jadeed, that “Over the past few days, Iraq received approximately 3,000 fighters from the former Syrian regime’s army, including soldiers and officers”, noting that “they entered with official approvals after they handed over their weapons to the Iraqi border guard forces, and tents were set up for them inside the Iraqi Al-Qa’im crossing. They were provided with all their basic needs and were hosted by the Iraqi tribes in Anbar.”

Mohammad added that “the soldiers have become the responsibility of the military authorities and have been transferred to one of the military bases in the Rutba district, with all their needs provided. There has been coordination with the Ministry of Migration and Displacement to provide them with their needs, especially food, and they are currently inside a secured Iraqi military base.”

According to the source, “there is no intention to accept these soldiers as refugees, but the concerned Iraqi authorities are waiting for the situation in Syria to stabilise before arranging their return and ensuring their safety.”

“They will remain as guests of Iraq during the next stage, until their situation is arranged, and their safe return is guaranteed. Iraq is committed to their safety within Iraqi territory and when sending them to the Syrian side”, added the source.

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