Iraq has invited Syria’s interim president, Ahmad al-Sharaa, to the upcoming Arab League summit in Baghdad on May 17. Al-Sharaa, who assumed power after the ousting of Bashar al-Assad in December 2024, has faced criticism due to his past affiliations with al-Qaida and an outstanding arrest warrant in Iraq. The invitation has sparked political divisions within Iraq, with Iran-aligned Shiite factions opposing engagement with al-Sharaa, while Sunni leaders advocate for regional diplomacy n18oc_crux