Syrian President al-Sharaa pledges cooperation in combating armed group

Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, recently dropped from the global "terror" list, has pledged cooperation by signing an agreement for Syria to join the international coalition led by the United States to combat the ISIL (ISIS) armed group.

The announcement was made by Syrian Information Minister Hamza al-Mustafa and U.S. officials shortly after President al-Sharaa arrived in Washington and was welcomed by U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House on Monday.

Information Minister al-Mustafa confirmed that a "political cooperation declaration" signed by Damascus with the international coalition solidifies Syria’s role in "combating terrorism and supporting regional stability." He clarified in a post on X that the agreement is political and "until now contains no military components."

The agreement makes Syria the 90th country to join the coalition, which is focused on preventing foreign fighters from integrating into ISIL’s ranks and eliminating the remaining elements of the group across the Middle East.

Security Threats and Sanctions Relief

The announcement was preceded by significant domestic security operations. On Saturday, a spokesperson for Syria’s Ministry of Interior revealed that preemptive nationwide operations were carried out targeting ISIL cells ahead of al-Sharaa’s U.S. visit. State-run Al-Ikhbariah TV reported that Syrian security forces conducted 61 raids, resulting in 71 arrests and the seizure of explosives and weapons.

Security concerns surrounding the new Syrian leader were further emphasized on Monday when Reuters, citing unnamed officials, reported that Syria had foiled two ISIL plots to assassinate al-Sharaa over the past few months. These schemes, officials asserted, underscore the direct threat al-Sharaa faces as he works to consolidate power in a fragmented country devastated by 14 years of civil war.

During his meeting with President Trump, the Syrian leader was praised and secured a six-month suspension of U.S. sanctions against his country.

The 43-year-old president came to power in December after toppling former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in a swift armed offensive. He previously led Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, an armed group that was once affiliated with al-Qaeda, but was removed from Washington’s "terror" list last week, which included cancelling a $10 million reward for his capture