Syrian foreign minister visits Iraq, calls for reopening of border

Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shibani and Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein attend a press conference, in Baghdad, Iraq March 14, 2025. REUTERS/Thaier Al-Sudani

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Syria's foreign minister made his first visit to Iraq since the fall of Bashar al-Assad, and called on Baghdad to reopen the border between the two countries that it had shut in the wake of the revolt that toppled him.

Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani said the aim of Friday's visit was to enhance trade between the two countries, and reopening the border would be a fundamental step in doing so.