Syria Joins US-Led Coalition Against ISIS Following Landmark Trump Meeting

Tue Nov 11 2025 19:51:55 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

In a historic shift, Syria is set to join the US-led coalition aimed at defeating the Islamic State group after a groundbreaking meeting between President Donald Trump and Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa at the White House. This announcement signals a significant change in US foreign policy in the Middle East.

Syria is officially joining the US-led coalition against the Islamic State, following President Trump’s meeting with Syrian President al-Sharaa. This marks an unprecedented diplomatic engagement and a shift in strategy regarding Syria, which has been embroiled in conflict. The White House plans to lift economic sanctions and re-establish diplomatic relations, highlighting a new era of cooperation between the two nations.

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 has confirmed.

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.

In an interview with Special Report on Fox News, al-Sharaa said the visit was part of a 'new era' in which the country would cooperate with the US.

Trump has expressed his support for al-Sharaa, who until recently was designated a terrorist by the US government.

Syria will now be the 90th country to join the global coalition, which is aimed at eliminating remaining elements of the so-called Islamic State and stemming the flow of foreign militants to the Middle East.

Following the meeting, a senior administration official also confirmed that the US Treasury Department, along with the departments of state and commerce, will announce new measures to lift economic restrictions on Syria and provide 'compliance clarity for investors'.

As part of the measures, the administration is also issuing an 180-day suspension of the Caesar Act, which since 2019 had sanctioned the former Syrian 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.'

Diplomatic relations between Syria and the US have been suspended since 2012, although the US will now allow Syria to re-open its embassy in Washington.

Al-Sharaa's visit to the White House caps a remarkable re-branding for the former jihadist. Not long ago, he led a branch of Al-Qaeda before breaking off ties. He was the leader of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, an armed Islamist group which the US officially considered a terrorist organization until four months ago.

Since becoming interim Syrian president, al-Sharaa has worked to soften his public image as he tries to rebuild Syria, with foreign support, following 13 years of war. Trump has repeatedly expressed support for al-Sharaa, referring to him as a 'young, attractive guy' and a 'fighter'.

This reset in relations hasn't come without controversies, given al-Sharaa's previously designated status as a terrorist and ongoing violence within Syria itself. Nevertheless, both leaders expressed a commitment to focus on rebuilding and cooperation moving forward.