Syria has officially joined the international coalition fighting the terrorist group known as ISIS, marking a major turning point in U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East, according to a senior Trump administration official.
The announcement came after a historic meeting at the White House between U.S. President Donald Trump and Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa — the first-ever visit of a Syrian leader to the United States.
In an interview on Fox News’ Special Report, al-Sharaa described the visit as the start of a “new era” in which Syria will cooperate with the United States.
President Trump expressed support for al-Sharaa, who had recently been designated as a terrorist by the U.S. government. This move has raised questions among analysts about the consistency and credibility of U.S. counterterrorism policy, as it represents a dramatic reversal of prior sanctions and security designations.
With this development, Syria becomes the 90th country to join the global coalition, which aims to eliminate remaining ISIS elements and prevent foreign militants from entering the Middle East.
Following the meeting, a senior administration official confirmed that the U.S. Treasury Department, in coordination with the State and Commerce Departments, plans to announce new measures lifting economic restrictions on Syria. The move is framed as providing clarity for investors, but it has drawn criticism for potentially rewarding a regime long accused of human rights abuses and supporting terrorist activity.
This historic engagement raises questions about the U.S.’s long-term strategic priorities in the region and whether immediate security gains outweigh broader concerns about accountability and governance in Syria.
