US-led international coalition against ISIS welcomes Syria as 90th member

By Rabia Iclal Turan

WASHINGTON (AA) - The US-led international coalition against ISIS (Daesh) welcomed Syria as its 90th member at a meeting Monday in the Saudi capital Riyadh.

“Coalition members underscored their readiness to work closely with the Syrian government and encouraged members to provide direct support to Syrian and Iraqi efforts,” said a US-Saudi joint statement released after the meeting.

“They noted the Government of Syria’s stated intention to assume national leadership of counter-ISIS efforts and expressed appreciation for the sacrifices made by the Syrian Democratic Forces in the fight against ISIS/Daesh,” it said.

The group also welcomed the ceasefire agreement between the Syrian government and the YPG/SDF terror group as well as arrangements for the “civil and military integration” of northeast Syria.

The meeting was attended by senior diplomatic and defense officials from the Small Group of the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS, including Saudi Vice Foreign Minister Waleed Elkhereiji and US Ambassador to Türkiye and Special Envoy for Syria Tom Barrack, according to the statement.

On the margins of the talks, Syria’s Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani met with Barrack, Syria’s Foreign Ministry said, without providing details on the discussions.

Al-Shaibani arrived in Riyadh on Sunday alongside Syrian intelligence chief Hussein al-Salama to take part in the meetings.

Syria formally joined the US-led coalition last November following a visit by President Ahmad al-Sharaa to the White House.

The Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS/Daesh was formed in 2014 and has carried out military operations against ISIS in Syria and Iraq.