ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The US-led global coalition against the Islamic State (ISIS) formally welcomed Syria as its 90th member during a meeting held Monday in Riyadh, more than three months after the country’s transitional government officially joined the bloc.
The one-day meeting was chaired by Saudi Deputy Foreign Minister Waleed Al-Khuraiji and attended by representatives from all 90 coalition member states, Saudi state television Al-Ekhbariya reported.
Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani and US envoy to Syria Tom Barrack were also present.
In a joint US-Saudi statement released after the meeting, coalition members reaffirmed their commitment to coordination with the Syrian government and called for direct support of counterterrorism efforts in both Syria and Iraq.
The meeting aimed to “consolidate gains against the (ISIS/Daesh) terrorist organization and address urgent security challenges in Syria and Iraq,” the statement said.
Participants also praised the leadership role of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) for their contributions to the fight against ISIS.
The SDF serves as the de facto military force in the autonomous region of Rojava and has been the US-led coalition’s primary ground partner in Syria for the past decade.
Senior Saudi and US officials co-chairing the counterterrorism talks also welcomed the recent ceasefire agreement between the Syrian government and the SDF, as well as plans for civil and military integration in northeast Syria.
Syria’s accession to the coalition followed a landmark meeting in November between Syrian interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa and US President Donald Trump, marking the first visit by a Syrian leader to the United States in 80 years.
At the time, SDF commander Mazloum Abdi described Syria’s inclusion in the coalition as “a pivotal step toward enhancing collaborative efforts and bolstering initiatives aimed at achieving the enduring defeat of ISIS and eliminating its threat to the region.”