Iraq Halts Oil Deliveries to Syria Amid Security Concerns

Iraq has announced the suspension of crude oil deliveries to Syria, marking a significant shift in regional relations. Mustafa Sanad, a member of the Iraqi parliament, confirmed the decision on social media, stating that Iraq would stop providing Syria with crude oil starting this month. This move coincides with growing concerns over security in Syria, as voiced by Iraq’s Foreign Minister Fuad Hussain.

Syria, which had been receiving approximately 120,000 barrels of crude oil daily from Iraq, now faces a severe supply shortage. The situation is further complicated by the halt of internal crude deliveries from eastern Syria, controlled by the Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), to the rest of the country, which is now under the control of the Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group. With the loss of oil shipments from Iran, which used to provide an additional 60,000 barrels per day, Syria is grappling with skyrocketing fuel prices as stocks deplete and transportation of gasoline and diesel becomes increasingly difficult.

Rising Tensions in Syria’s Transition

The political landscape in Syria has shifted dramatically following the recent takeover by the HTS. The group, led by Ahmed al-Sharaa (Abu Mohammed al-Julani), has taken charge of the country’s new administration. In this volatile environment, Turkey’s Foreign Minister, Hakan Fidan, visited Damascus to meet with Syria's new leaders, signaling Ankara's support for Syria's transitional government and its efforts to draft a new constitution.

Turkey's long-standing backing of Syrian rebels has now transitioned to helping the new Syrian leadership establish stability. President Tayyip Erdogan has vowed to assist in rebuilding Syria, and hopes that millions of Syrian migrants currently residing in Turkey can begin returning home.

However, despite the political changes, there are rising concerns over security. Iraq's Foreign Minister, Fuad Hussain, expressed alarm about the resurgence of terrorist organizations in Syria. The power vacuum left by Assad’s fall could provide fertile ground for extremist groups to regroup, destabilizing the region further.

Turkey has also been active in northern Syria, engaging in military operations against Kurdish forces, which it considers a terrorist organization. With the new leadership in Syria more favorable to Turkey, the situation in the northeast remains tense, especially with the Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), allied with the US, facing increased pressure from Turkey-backed forces.