In a stunning diplomatic turnaround, Syria has officially joined the US-led international coalition to combat the Islamic State (IS) group, following a historic meeting between President Donald Trump and Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa at the White House. This marks the first time a Syrian leader has ever visited Washington.
The meeting signals a major shift in US foreign policy toward the Middle East. Al-Sharaa, who until recently was listed as a terrorist by the US government, described the engagement as the start of a “new era” of cooperation between Washington and Damascus.
Syria becomes the 90th nation to join the global coalition dedicated to eliminating remaining IS elements and curbing the movement of foreign fighters into the region. Following the talks, a senior Trump administration official confirmed that the US Treasury, State, and Commerce departments will lift several economic restrictions on Syria and temporarily suspend the Caesar Act sanctions for 180 days.
President Trump expressed optimism about Syria’s future, stating, “We want to see Syria become a country that’s very successful. And I think this leader can do it.”
The move represents a remarkable rebranding for al-Sharaa, who once led a faction of Al-Qaeda before breaking away to form Hayat Tahrir al-Sham—previously designated a terrorist organization by the US. Only last week, the Treasury Department removed him from its global terrorist list, erasing a $10 million bounty.
Since assuming Syria’s presidency, al-Sharaa has pledged to reform his country, address human rights violations, and restore stability after 13 years of war. Trump has praised him as a “fighter” and a “young, attractive guy” capable of leading Syria’s transformation.
This new alliance may pave the way for restoring diplomatic relations between the two nations, with the US expected to allow Syria to reopen its embassy in Washington for the first time since 2012.
