ALBAWABA - Following the overthrow of the Assad regime, over 2,000 Syrian soldiers have fled to Iraq, according to an Iraqi official. Currently, the Iraqi government has set up a makeshift camp in the western province of Anbar to host the soldiers.
Emad Al-Dulaimi, the mayor of Rutba district, stated in an interview with CNN that the Iraqi Ministry of Defense directed local military units to set up a camp near the Al-Qaim border crossing. The facility, which includes hundreds of tents, was specifically designed to accommodate 2,150 Syrian soldiers.
According to Al-Dulaimi, the soldiers crossed into Iraq fearing retribution in Syria due to their allegiance to Bashar al-Assad’s government. "These soldiers surrendered to Iraqi authorities, seeking safety and protection after the regime's downfall," he explained.
On December 7, a day before the Assad regime officially collapsed, Iraq’s state news agency (INA) reported that over 1,000 Syrian troops had entered Iraqi territory through the Al-Qaim crossing. A senior security source told INA that the soldiers were received by Iraqi forces, who ensured they were provided with basic care, shelter, and necessary supplies.
The situation highlights the regional implications of Assad’s fall, as neighboring countries like Iraq step in to provide refuge for displaced soldiers. The continuous turmoil in Syria and its effects on the larger Middle East are further highlighted by this development.
As the soldiers await their next steps, Iraqi authorities continue to manage the influx while maintaining security and humanitarian efforts at the border.
