Syria Joins Anti-ISIS Coalition After US Talks

Syria has joined the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS following landmark talks between President Ahmed al-Sharaa and US President Donald Trump in Washington. The move marks a major diplomatic shift after years of conflict and isolation.

Sharaa, whose forces removed Bashar al-Assad from power last year, became the first Syrian leader to visit the White House since 1946. His visit took place shortly after Washington removed him and his group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) from its terrorism list. HTS had previously been affiliated with Al-Qaeda.

A senior US official confirmed that Syria has become the coalition’s 90th member and will work with the United States to target remaining ISIS networks and block foreign fighter movements. The official added that diplomatic relations between Damascus and Washington will resume to strengthen counterterrorism and economic cooperation.

Trump said he believed Sharaa could lead Syria towards stability after more than a decade of civil war. The US president described him as “a strong leader” and said a stable Syria was central to broader regional peace efforts, including efforts to maintain the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.

However, Trump did not confirm speculation about a potential non-aggression agreement between Syria and Israel. Sharaa later stated that the unresolved dispute over the Golan Heights remains a significant obstacle, though he signalled openness to talks mediated by Washington.

Sharaa’s visit symbolises a dramatic transformation for a figure once regarded internationally as a militant commander with a large US bounty on his head. His government is seeking reconstruction support, and discussions have already taken place with the International Monetary Fund.

Despite ongoing debate over his past, Sharaa has intensified diplomatic engagement, having also met Russian President Vladimir Putin in October as Syria repositions itself in regional and global politics.