US initiates intelligence sharing with Syria’s new government Report by The Washington Post

In a significant shift in US-Syria relations, the US and Syria's newly established administration have exchanged classified intelligence regarding ISIS threats, marking an unexpected development in their cooperation.

The Washington Post revealed that US intelligence played a crucial role in thwarting an ISIS plot to attack a religious shrine near Damascus earlier this month, per Caliber.Az.

The operation was reportedly based on intelligence shared between Washington and the Syrian government, marking a rare instance of collaboration between the two nations.

The intelligence-sharing agreement between the US and Syria’s new leadership is viewed as a reflection of both sides' concerns about ISIS’s potential resurgence. US officials indicated that while this cooperation represents a common interest in defeating ISIS, it does not imply full political acceptance of the new Syrian administration. As one official put it, the intelligence exchange was a necessary measure to confront the immediate threat, rather than an endorsement of Syria's new political structure.

This collaboration comes in the context of a shifting political landscape in Syria, following the collapse of former President Bashar al-Assad’s regime.

The new Syrian leader, Ahmed al-Sharaa, who has assumed control in the wake of Assad’s fall, congratulated US President Donald Trump on his inauguration, signalling an openness to improved bilateral relations. In his statement, al-Sharaa expressed confidence that Trump could lead efforts toward peace and stability in the Middle East. He also stressed that Syria seeks to engage in dialogue with Washington, aiming to establish a cooperative relationship that benefits both nations.

While the US stance on Syria post-Assad remains somewhat ambiguous, this intelligence exchange signifies a shift toward pragmatic cooperation. Both countries appear to recognize the urgent need to work together on counterterrorism efforts, especially given the potential resurgence of ISIS in Syria and the broader region.

Despite these cooperative steps, however, US officials remain cautious about the broader implications of engaging with Syria’s new government, emphasizing that this is a targeted effort to address immediate security threats, rather than an endorsement of the new regime's legitimacy or governance. The evolving nature of these relations suggests that, for now, counterterrorism cooperation may be one of the few areas where the US and Syria can find common ground.

By Tamilla Hasanova