In a stunning diplomatic reversal, Syria has agreed to join the U.S.-led coalition to combat the Islamic State group, following a historic meeting between President Ahmed al-Sharaa and U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House - the first official visit by a Syrian head of state in more than two decades.

The announcement marks a major geopolitical shift for the Middle East. Syria, long isolated under international sanctions and accused of harboring extremist cells, will now formally coordinate intelligence and military operations with the U.S. and its regional allies — a move officials say could redefine the balance of power in the ongoing fight against IS remnants in Iraq and eastern Syria.

“We are turning the page of conflict to write a new chapter of cooperation,” al-Sharaa said during a joint press conference. “Syria stands ready to work with the international community to defeat terrorism in all its forms.”

From Pariah to Partner

The meeting follows months of quiet negotiations led by U.S. special envoy Brett McGurk, with backing from Saudi Arabia and Jordan. It represents the most significant thaw in U.S.–Syria relations since the Obama administration suspended diplomatic ties in 2012 over the Assad regime’s human rights abuses.

Ahmed al-Sharaa, who rose to power after the ousting of Bashar al-Assad in 2023, was once labeled a “designated terrorist financier” by Washington. His government has since sought international legitimacy by distancing itself from Iran and curbing the influence of militias tied to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

“This is an extraordinary turnaround,” said Dr. Lina Khatib, a Middle East analyst at Chatham House. “For the U.S., this is less about friendship and more about leverage — stabilizing eastern Syria while containing Iran and Russia’s influence.”

A Calculated Alliance

According to U.S. defense officials, Syria’s inclusion in the coalition will focus on joint operations in the Deir ez-Zor and Hasakah regions, where IS fighters have regrouped in recent months. The Pentagon confirmed that Syrian forces will receive non-lethal logistical support and satellite intelligence, but no direct U.S. funding or weaponry under current terms.

“We are not arming anyone,” said U.S. Defense Secretary Mike Waltz. “This is a partnership based on mutual security interests, not trust.”

The agreement also opens a limited humanitarian coordination channel, allowing aid to reach camps still housing tens of thousands of displaced people from IS-controlled territories.

However, critics warn that integrating Syrian forces into coalition frameworks risks legitimizing a government still accused of war crimes and political repression. Human rights groups have already expressed concern that Western governments may overlook ongoing detentions and disappearances in Damascus-controlled regions.

A Regional Power Play

The move has drawn sharp reactions from Iran and Russia, both of which maintain strategic interests in Syria. Moscow called the U.S.–Syria partnership “a violation of Syrian sovereignty,” while Iranian state media accused al-Sharaa of “selling the revolution for Western approval.”

Turkey, meanwhile, cautiously welcomed the deal, viewing it as an opportunity to curb Kurdish militant activity along its border. Saudi Arabia and Egypt also issued statements of support, calling the development “a critical step toward restoring stability in the Levant.”

“Everyone’s recalibrating,” said Aaron Stein, director of research at the Foreign Policy Research Institute. “This is about counterterrorism optics, but it’s also about who controls Syria’s future.”

The Takeaway

Syria’s entry into the U.S.-led coalition underscores a deeper transformation in Middle Eastern geopolitics: ideological red lines are being replaced by strategic pragmatism. For Trump, it’s a diplomatic coup that reframes his administration’s foreign policy legacy; for al-Sharaa, it’s a bid for international redemption.

Whether the partnership endures — or merely masks mutual distrust — will depend on how both sides manage the fragile balance between fighting extremism and rewriting history.

“Enemies yesterday, allies today,” Dr. Khatib said. “But in this part of the world, alliances change as fast as the sand shifts.”