Washington Treating Syria and Iraq as Unified Policy Zone Amid Iran Crisis
The United States is increasingly treating Syria and Iraq as a single policy theater, driven by the Iran crisis and the need for alternative energy routes after the Strait of Hormuz closure. Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi visited Washington in mid-July 2026, while Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa met President Trump at the NATO summit in Turkey. The U.S. has appointed Ambassador Tom Barrack as envoy to Turkey, Syria, and Iraq, signaling unified diplomacy. Key developments include the revival of the Tanf crossing for oil trucking, lifting of sanctions on Syria, potential U.S. oil company investment in Syrian infrastructure, and a planned U.S. military withdrawal from Iraq by September 2026. The success of this new partnership hinges on militia disarmament in Iraq. The policy builds on the post-ISIS framework and aims to counter Iran while integrating both countries into a U.S.-led regional order.
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