Syria to join US-led coalition to defeat IS group after Trump meeting

November 11, 2025

Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa made an unprecedented visit to the White House, where Syria agreed to join the international coalition against ISIS as the 90th member nation. This marks a dramatic reversal in US policy toward al-Sharaa, who led an Al-Qaeda affiliate and was designated a terrorist with a $10 million bounty until recently being removed from the terrorist list just last week. The Trump administration announced it would lift economic sanctions on Syria, suspend the Caesar Act for 180 days, and allow Syria to reopen its Washington embassy after diplomatic relations were suspended since 2012.

Who is affected

Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa (formerly designated terrorist, now removed from terrorist list)
Syria as a nation (joining ISIS coalition, receiving sanction relief)
The United States government and its Middle East foreign policy
US Treasury, State, and Commerce Departments (implementing policy changes)
Syria's Alawite minority (experiencing killings)
Sunni Bedouin fighters and Druze militias (involved in deadly violence)
Members of Syrian security forces who committed human rights violations
Potential investors in Syria (receiving compliance clarity)
The 89 other countries in the anti-ISIS coalition

What action is being taken

Syria is joining the international coalition to combat ISIS as the 90th member
The US Treasury, State, and Commerce Departments are announcing measures to lift economic restrictions on Syria
The administration is issuing a 180-day suspension of the Caesar Act
The US is allowing Syria to reopen its embassy in Washington
Al-Sharaa is working to soften his public image and rebuild Syria
Al-Sharaa has vowed to root out security force members who committed human rights violations
The administration is monitoring the Syrian government's actions

Why it matters

This represents a significant shift in US Middle East policy, normalizing relations with a leader who was recently considered a terrorist and led groups affiliated with Al-Qaeda, the organization responsible for 9/11. The change signals the Trump administration's willingness to overlook al-Sharaa's violent jihadist past and ongoing human rights concerns in favor of strategic partnership against ISIS and regional stability. The lifting of sanctions and diplomatic normalization could reshape regional dynamics and provide Syria with crucial economic support for rebuilding after 13 years of civil war, while also establishing a new geopolitical and economic partnership between the two nations.

What's next

The administration will monitor Syria's actions including taking steps toward normalizing ties with Israel and addressing foreign terrorists and militant groups operating in the country.

Read full article from source: BBC