Over 4,000 Syrian army soldiers have crossed into Iraq following the fall of Damascus and the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad’s government, a militia official from Iraq’s Anbar Tribal Mobilization Forces confirmed. The soldiers reportedly surrendered their weapons, ammunition, and armored vehicles. They are being housed in a secure camp, though the exact location remains undisclosed.
Another source indicated that late Sunday night, the governor of Syria’s Hasakeh province led a convoy of soldiers seeking asylum in Iraq via the Qaim border crossing, where they were granted entry.
Iraq, historically aligned with Assad through its close ties to Iran, has adopted a neutral stance regarding the recent insurgent-led offensive that toppled the Syrian regime. The officials who provided these updates chose to remain anonymous, citing restrictions on discussing the situation publicly.