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Recent floods in northern and eastern Syria, exacerbated by increased river flows from Turkey, have resurfaced concerns over the water crisis affecting Syria and Iraq. The core of the dispute lies in how water resources from the Tigris and Euphrates rivers are shared, with Turkey, as the upstream nation, holding significant control over the flow. Turkey's extensive dam network, part of its Southeastern Anatolia Project, has drastically reduced water levels downstream, particularly in Iraq, which has experienced its most severe drought in over 80 years.

Iraq and Syria are pushing for the rivers to be classified as international waterways, subject to fair-sharing rules and historical agreements. They accuse Turkey of weaponizing water for security reasons, linking it to operations against the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) within their territories. This has led to increased Turkish military presence and friction, especially with Baghdad.

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Türkiye has been accused of using water as leverage against Iraq and Syria for security reasons, mainly linked to the Kurdistan Workers Party, or PKK, and its extensions inside both countries.

Turkey maintains its right to manage the rivers under its sovereignty, asserting it is a water-scarce country. Ankara argues that Iraq's water problems stem from internal mismanagement and inefficient resource use, not from Turkish dams. Despite diplomatic efforts and past agreements to ensure minimum water needs, the tension persists, highlighting water's historical role as a foundation for civilization, a source of conflict, and a potential tool for development in Mesopotamia.

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Türkiye insists it is a water-poor country and says Iraq’s crisis stems from local mismanagement and poor resource use, not from Turkish dams.