Karbala – Amid changing Middle Eastern dynamics, Al-Nabaa Forum for Dialogue hosted an extensive panel discussion in Karbala titled "Lebanese-Iraqi Relations Amid Middle East Shifts", featuring Lebanese Ambassador to Iraq Ali Adeeb Al-Habhab. The session was moderated by Forum member Dr. Wathiq Al-Hashimi, Head of the Iraqi Group for Strategic Studies.
The symposium brought together the First Deputy Governor of Karbala, Jassim Al-Fatlawi, several provincial council members, the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) representative, Ali Kamouna, as well as religious, academic, legal, and trade union figures, research center directors, civil activists, and journalists. Opening the event, Forum Head and journalist Ali Al-Talaqani emphasized the historical depth of Iraqi-Lebanese relations, noting their steady expansion across multiple domains.
Al-Talaqani highlighted that both nations navigate similar political and security realities along their borders, necessitating aligned perspectives between Baghdad and Beirut to navigate ongoing regional transformations.
For his part, Ambassador Ali Adeeb Al-Habhab delivered a detailed presentation on Lebanon’s history and the deep-seated bilateral ties between Baghdad and Beirut throughout the ages. He highlighted the familial and socio-religious ties binding the two countries as historical roots that encourage mutual goodwill and peace, rather than sources of division or strain on either nation’s internal fabric.
Ambassador Al-Habhab affirmed that both peoples aspire to a democratic process that serves their interests, moves past the scars of war, and advances post-conflict reconstruction. He pointed to Lebanon’s resilience during the 1996 and 2006 Israeli aggressions, achieved through cohesion between the public, the army, and the resistance. He noted a parallel dynamic in Iraq, where the army, the public, and the Popular Mobilization Units (PMU) played a pivotal role in defeating terrorism, restoring state sovereignty across Iraqi cities, maintaining national unity, and rejecting partition.
The ambassador added that the shared realities between Iraq and Lebanon call for exchanging expertise to mature the political process, strengthen democracy, curb sectarian quotas, and institutionalize the state. He stressed that expanding bilateral ties, particularly in light of regional security and political developments, is crucial for regional stability, alongside boosting parliamentary and economic cooperation. In light of previous visits by Lebanese officials to Iraq, Al-Habhab called for mutual visa waivers to facilitate uninterrupted communication and bilateral collaboration.
