In the aftermath of the Syrian civil war that started in 2011, Iraq’s Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Sudani conducted the first prime ministerial visit to Syria. There, he met with Syrian President Bashar Assad in Damascus, where they held a joint press conference. The main discussion points were the smuggling of captagon, the reopening of the Kirkuk-Banyas oil pipeline, and combating DAESH, a terrorist organization. Assad emphasized the need for stronger bilateral ties and mutual support, while Sudani affirmed Iraq’s continued backing of Syria’s sovereignty and security. Both leaders committed to working on mutually beneficial economic relations.