Baghdad Operations Command slams rumor of ‘poisoning plot’ by Syrian workers

BAGHDAD — The Baghdad Operations Command on Sunday denied social media reports alleging Syrian restaurant workers were plotting to poison thousands of Iraqis in a bid to destabilize security.

“This news is baseless and has no foundation in reality. What has been published in this regard is nothing but rumors,” the command said in a statement, adding that no such directive warning of a purported Syrian-led poisoning scheme existed.

The denial came as authorities detained 738 foreign nationals in Baghdad for violating residency rules. The command urged media outlets and social media users to seek official statements before sharing unverified claims. “The Baghdad Operations Command calls on satellite channels and media agencies to be accurate in reporting information and to verify news from official sources in the Baghdad Operations Command,” the statement added.

Earlier this month, masked members of the Ya Ali militia were filmed appearing to attack Syrian workers in Baghdad, sparking widespread outrage and prompting a swift response from Iraqi authorities. A viral video showed the group storming a workshop, assaulting several workers, and allegedly finding photos of interim Syrian President Ahmad Al-Sharaa on their phones. The attack came less than a day after the militia issued a warning threatening Syrians in Iraq if they were found supporting the new Syrian government. The exact location and timing of the footage remain unverified.

In response, Iraqi security forces launched a crackdown on the perpetrators. Sabah Al-Numan, spokesperson for the commander-in-chief of the armed forces, confirmed that a special team was immediately mobilized to track down those responsible. Iraqi officials reassured Syrian nationals of their safety, emphasizing that “all nationalities working and residing in Iraq are protected under the Iraqi state.”

The Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs called the attack a “violation of human rights and international law,” while the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq described reports of the assault as “highly alarming.”