CaliToday (11/11/2025): The visit, the first by a Syrian leader since 1946, comes just days after the U.S. removed President Ahmed al-Sharaa formerly an Al-Qaeda affiliate with a $10M bounty—from its terrorism list.
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| US President Donald Trump shakes hands with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa at the White House in Washington (Handout) |
WASHINGTON – Syria is joining the global coalition against the Islamic State (ISIS), a senior U.S. administration official announced Monday, in a stunning geopolitical reversal that followed a historic White House meeting between President Donald Trump and his Syrian counterpart, Ahmed al-Sharaa.
The 43-year-old Sharaa, whose rebel forces ousted longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad late last year, is the first Syrian leader to be officially welcomed to the White House since the country's independence in 1946.
The landmark Oval Office visit capped a remarkable and rapid turnaround for the former jihadist, who, as leader of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), was once a designated terrorist affiliated with Al-Qaeda and had a $10 million U.S. bounty on his head. That designation was formally lifted by the State Department just last Friday.
"During the visit, Syria announced that it is joining the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS," a senior administration official told reporters. Syria becomes the 90th member of the alliance, "partnering with the United States to eliminate ISIS remnants and halt foreign fighter flows."
According to the official, the U.S. will also allow Syria to resume full diplomatic relations with Washington "to further counterterrorism, security, and economic coordination."
Trump: "He's a Tough Guy"
Following the closed-press meeting, President Trump praised the new Syrian leader, framing him as a necessary figure for regional stability.
"He's a very strong leader. He comes from a very tough place, and he's a tough guy," Trump told reporters. "People said he's had a rough past, we've all had rough pasts... And I think, frankly, if you didn't have a rough past, you wouldn't have a chance."
Trump said he wanted Syria to become "very successful" after its devastating 13-year civil war and added that he believed Sharaa "can do it, I really do."
The president also tied the new partnership to his broader goals for a comprehensive Middle East peace plan, which the administration hopes will prop up the fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.
"Having a stable and successful Syria is very important to all countries in the Region," Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform after the meeting.
Despite the warm reception, Trump would not confirm reports that Syria would sign any non-aggression pact with its long-term foe, Israel. In a subsequent interview with Fox News, Sharaa said Syria's ongoing dispute with Israel over the Golan Heights territory would make entering peace talks difficult for now, but suggested talks facilitated by Trump and Washington could help start negotiations.
"Astonishing Transformation"
The Syrian presidency released photos on X (formerly Twitter) showing Trump and a smiling Sharaa shaking hands by the Resolute Desk. Other images showed the Syrian leader sitting opposite Trump with a high-level U.S. delegation, including Vice President JD Vance, Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth, and top U.S. military officer Dan Caine.
In dramatic scenes as he left the White House, Sharaa climbed out of his motorcade to greet crowds of supporters, surrounded on all sides by bodyguards.
"Sharaa's White House visit is a hugely symbolic moment... who thus marks another step in his astonishing transformation from militant leader to global statesman," said Michael Hanna, U.S. Program Director at the International Crisis Group.
Since taking power, Syria's new leaders have sought to break from their violent past and present a more moderate image. Sharaa is also actively seeking funds to rebuild his nation, meeting with IMF chief Kristalina Georgieva over the weekend.
The visit demonstrates Sharaa's complex diplomatic balancing act. Just last month, he met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in their first meeting since the ousting of Assad, a key Kremlin ally.