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 at eliminating remaining elements of the so-called Islamic State and stemming the flow of foreign militants to the region.
Following the meeting, a senior administration official also confirmed that new measures would be taken to lift economic restrictions on Syria and provide clarity for investors.
As part of the measures, the administration is also issuing an 180-day suspension of the Caesar Act which had sanctioned the former Syrian government since 2019.
Trump commented that we want to see Syria become a country that's very successful, expressing optimism in al-Sharaa's leadership.
Diplomatic relations between Syria and the US have been suspended since 2012, although under the new policy, Syria will be allowed to re-open its embassy in Washington.
Al-Sharaa’s visit to the White House marks a remarkable rebranding for a leader who previously engaged with jihadist groups, highlighting a potential pathway towards stability and cooperation with international allies.
