Syria Joins US Coalition Against ISIS After Landmark Meeting with Trump

Sun Nov 30 2025 23:13:56 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

In a significant shift in US foreign policy, Syria is set to join the US-led coalition aimed at defeating the Islamic State group following a historic meeting between President Trump and Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa at the White House.

Syria will join the international campaign against the Islamic State, marking a notable change in US-Syria relations. This decision follows the unprecedented meeting between President Trump and Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, indicating a restoration of ties after years of diplomatic isolation since 2012. Trump endorsed al-Sharaa, who has transitioned from a controversial figure to a leader aimed at stabilizing the war-torn nation.

Syria will join the international coalition to combat the Islamic State group, marking a shift in US foreign policy in the Middle East, a senior Trump administration official confirmed to CBS, the BBC's US media partner.

The announcement came as President Donald Trump met Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa at the White House - the first such visit from a Syrian leader in the country's history.

Diplomatic relations between Syria and the US have been suspended since 2012, although Trump has moved to restore them after the fall of the regime of Bashar al-Assad.

Trump has expressed his support for al-Sharaa, who until recently was designated a terrorist by the US government. Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office several hours after the meeting, Trump said that we want to see Syria become a country that's very successful.

Trump noted that he believes al-Sharaa can achieve this goal, hinting at further announcements yet to come.

This is the third meeting between the two leaders, following one in May on the sidelines of the Gulf Cooperation Council and a dinner during the UN General Assembly in September. Al-Sharaa's visit to the White House caps a remarkable re-branding for the former jihadist.

Once the leader of a faction associated with Al-Qaeda, al-Sharaa had a $10 million bounty on his head until recently.

Since taking on the role of interim Syrian president, al-Sharaa has worked to reshape his public persona and gain international support for the reconstruction of Syria after years of conflict.

Despite alarming reports of human rights abuses under his leadership, Trump continues to express confidence in al-Sharaa's potential to lead Syria towards stability.

In June, Trump signed an executive order lifting sanctions against Syria to assist in its recovery process, emphasizing the importance of monitoring the new government's actions in pursuit of peace and normalizing relations.