Top US commander, Syrian president discuss ISIS

Rudaw

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Syrian interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa received Admiral Brad Cooper, commander of United States troops in the Middle East, in Damascus on Friday, discussing the fight against the Islamic State (ISIS) in Syria. 

The US delegation, which included US Central Command chief Cooper and US Special Envoy for Syria Thomas Barrack, were received by Sharaa at the Presidential Palace. 

"During the meeting, Cooper and Barrack thanked President al-Sharaa for his support to counter ISIS in Syria. Eliminating the ISIS threat in Syria will reduce the risk of an ISIS attack on the U.S. homeland while working towards President [Donald] Trump's vision of a prosperous Middle East and a stable Syria at peace with itself and its neighbors," read a statement from CENTCOM. 

The US delegation and Sharaa agreed to future meetings "to ensure both countries remain focused on countering ISIS in Syria." 

Cooper and Barrack praised Syria for efforts that "support U.S. goals in the Middle East, including negotiations for the integration of various Syrian armed groups into the new Syrian Government’s military," added the statement. 

The Syrian presidency said in a statement that they discussed future military and political cooperation and bolstering bilateral relations at various levels. It did not mention ISIS or integration issues. 

The CENTCOM commander visited the Kurdish region in northeast Syria (Rojava) last week, including al-Hol camp where thousands of ISIS-affiliated families are held. He reportedly met with Mazloum Abdi, commander-in-chief of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), and expressed Washington's continued support. 

The SDF has played a key role in the fight against ISIS and has been the main ally of the US-led global coalition against the jihadist group on the ground. 

The new government in Damascus, which came to power in December after toppling dictator Bashar al-Assad, also faces the threat of an ISIS resurgence. ISIS was blamed for a deadly bombing of Mar Elias Church in Damascus in June.

The US has around 900 soldiers in Syria, mostly based in Rojava. Washington has no military presence in Damascus-held areas.