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AMMAN/BEIRUT: The foreign ministers of Syria and Iraq met in Damascus on Tuesday to discuss ways to tackle militant groups in their countries and Iraq called for greater international cooperation to combat the violence, Syrian state media said.

The Shi'ite Muslim-led government in Baghdad, together with Iran and the Lebanese group Hezbollah, have been important allies for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Shi'ite Iraqi militias have fought on Assad's side against the insurgency spearheaded by Sunni Islamists.

Iraq's armed forces are also the main partner on the ground for a U.S.-led coalition bombing Islamic State militants in Iraq but Washington and other Western governments have dismissed the idea of cooperating directly with Syria in the same fight.

Tuesday's high-level discussions "focussed on the fight against terrorism and common dangers that threaten our countries," Syrian state television said, citing a joint news conference by the foreign ministers at Damascus airport. It did not specify which groups the discussions were referring to.

Iraq has acted as a go-between for information about the U.S.-led strikes Islamic State in both countries.

Iraq's Foreign Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari was also due to meet Assad, Jaafari's office said earlier on Tuesday. His visit comes ahead of an Arab League meeting in Egypt this weekend. Syria's seat has been left vacant since its membership was suspended in November 2011 after the government's crackdown on protests.

"Terrorism is not just a danger that faces both countries but one that will affect all countries if there is not cooperation," Jaafari said, according to Syria's state news channel.

His Syrian counterpart Walid al-Moualem said the two countries "stand in the same trench against terrorism," state news agency SANA said.

In September Iraq's national security adviser briefed Assad on efforts to counter Islamic State, in the first such meeting since the United States launched air strikes on the group in Iraq. Territory held by Islamic State in Syria includes most of Deir al-Zor province, which borders Iraq.

Assad said last month that third parties including Iraq were conveying information to Damascus about the U.S.-led campaign of air strikes against Islamic State in Syria.

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Syria, Iraq discuss tackling militants, urge cooperation