Syrian president Ahmad al-Sharaa to visit Washington for talks on joining U.S.-led coalition

Syrian president Ahmad al-Sharaa to visit Washington for talks on joining U.S.-led coalition
Reuters

Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa is expected to visit Washington for discussions on Syria’s possible role in the U.S.-led coalition against IS.

United States Special Envoy to Syria Tom Barrack confirmed the planned visit during the Manama Dialogue in Bahrain, saying the trip could open the way for Syria to join the international coalition formed to combat IS.

The visit would be al-Sharaa’s second trip to the United States, following his address to the UN General Assembly in New York in September. Since taking power from Bashar al-Assad last December, al-Sharaa has made a series of foreign visits as his transitional government works to re-establish Syria’s relations with major powers after years of isolation.

Syria is not currently part of the U.S.-led coalition created in 2014 to defeat IS. At its peak between 2014 and 2017, the group controlled nearly one-third of Syria and Iraq, enforcing harsh rule and gaining notoriety for acts of brutality.

The coalition and its local partners expelled IS from its last stronghold in 2019. However, sources told Reuters in June that the militants have been trying to exploit the fall of the Assad regime to mount a resurgence in Syria and neighbouring Iraq.

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