Union of Arab Republics (1972) already announced to merge bilaterally in a closer union (also called "United Arab Republic") within the federation. Although further discussions were not held, in January 1973 the Iraqi regime assured Egypt and Syria its full military and economical support in case of a new war against Israel. Iraq's offer to create a Joint Military Command was rejected however. Union of Arab Republics (1972) In March 1972 Ba'athist Iraq proposed Egypt and Syria to re-establish the United Arab Republic which dissolved in 1971. The Iraqi proposal was an immediate reaction to Jordan's proposal for a United Arab Kingdom but collided with
United Arab Republic with Syria, favoring instead a federal union. However, Nasser was "more afraid of a Communist takeover" and agreed on a total merger. The increasing strength of the Syrian Communist Party, under the leadership of Khalid Bakdash, worried the Syrian Ba'ath Party, which was suffering from an internal crisis from which prominent members were anxious to find an escape. Syria had had a democratic government since the overthrow of Adib al-Shishakli's military regime in 1954, and popular pressure for Arab unity was reflected in the composition of parliament. When on 11 January 1958 al-Bizri led a Syrian delegation composed of military