Syria Joins US Coalition Against ISIS After Historic Trump Meeting

Wed Nov 12 2025 12:31:20 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

In a significant shift in foreign policy, Syria has agreed to participate in the US-led coalition against the Islamic State group following a groundbreaking meeting between President Trump and Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa.

Syria's decision to join the international coalition to combat ISIS marks a pivotal moment in US relations with the Middle East. Following a historic meeting at the White House, both leaders aim to foster a new phase of cooperation, focusing on combating terrorism and economic recovery. President Trump expressed his support for al-Sharaa, who has been recently taken off the US terrorism list, showcasing a dramatic transformation in Syria's leadership image.

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 co-operate 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 aims to eliminate remaining elements of the so-called Islamic State and stem the flow of foreign militants to the Middle East.

Following the meeting, a senior administration official 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 will also issue an 180-day suspension of the Caesar Act, which had sanctioned the former Syrian government since 2019.

In the Oval Office several hours after the meeting, Trump said that we want to see Syria become a country that's very successful.

And I think this leader can do it, he added. I really do.

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

This meeting was the third between the two leaders, following discussions in May and during the UN General Assembly in September.

Al-Sharaa's visit to the White House caps a remarkable re-branding for the former jihadist leader. Previously associated with Al-Qaeda and labeled a terrorist by the US, al-Sharaa has aimed to transform his public image in order to rebuild Syria following years of conflict.

According to Trump, al-Sharaa has had a rough past. However, the focus of their meeting was on Syria's future partnership with the US, rather than past affiliations.

While al-Sharaa works to repair the war-torn nation, he faces challenges such as violence against minority groups and pledges to address human rights violations within his security forces.

President Trump has also signed an executive order aimed at supporting Syria's path to stability, indicating a significant shift in US policy towards the long-isolated nation.