Newspapers highlight al-Sharaa’s visit to Washington, Iraqi elections

The visit of the head of the Syrian transitional government to the United States and the Iraqi elections topped the front pages of today’s newspapers.

That picture in the White House

On Syrian affairs, Asharq Al-Awsat shed light on Ahmad al-Sharaa’s meeting with US President Donald Trump, describing the event as “historic and unprecedented since Syria’s independence in 1946.”

The newspaper viewed al-Sharaa as representing a new phase for Syria, as he chose to avoid military confrontation with Israel—an approach that could pressure Iranian influence in the region and restore the balance of power in the Middle East. It also highlighted the potential impact of this move on Russia, Iran, Lebanon, and Iraq.

The newspaper further discussed al-Sharaa’s future responsibilities, including Syria’s reconstruction, poverty alleviation, strengthening the rule of law, and combating “terrorism.” It considered al-Sharaa’s visit to Washington an extension of his earlier handshake with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, opening the door for significant American and Western support for what it called “the new Syria.”

Meanwhile, Al-Khaleej described the visit as “an important political step toward ending the long rupture between Damascus and Washington” and beginning a new phase of openness and balanced relations with major powers.

It noted that the visit followed al-Sharaa’s trip to Moscow, reflecting Damascus’s desire to realign its alliances. The newspaper added that al-Sharaa seeks to lift sanctions, particularly the Caesar Act, gain support for reconstruction, achieve internal stability, confront Israeli challenges, and join the international coalition against ISIS.

Iraqi elections begin with a formally successful special vote ahead of the real test day

On Iraqi affairs, Al-Arab (London) began its coverage by discussing the Iraqi elections, reporting that Sunday’s special voting day for security and military personnel witnessed “high turnout and good organization, with no significant violations recorded.” According to the paper, this reflected “the extensive efforts made by the authorities to carry out the electoral process.”

However, the newspaper cautioned that “the real test” would come on the general voting day, scheduled for November 11, amid fears of a low turnout following Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr’s call for a boycott and possible electoral violations due to fierce competition among political factions.

It also noted that the participation of security forces reflected “institutional discipline,” despite the affiliation of some security groups with particular parties such as the Kurdistan Democratic Party and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan.

A-H 

ANHA