US top general, special envoy meet Syrian president to bolster anti-ISIS efforts

The top U.S. military official in the Middle East, Admiral Brad Cooper, met with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa in Damascus on September 12, in a high-profile engagement aimed at strengthening cooperation on regional security.

The meeting, confirmed by both the U.S. military and the Syrian presidency, also included U.S. Special Envoy for Syria Tom Barrack, Caliber.Az reports, referring to Arab media.

Admiral Cooper’s wife joined the discussions alongside President al-Sharaa and his spouse.

During the talks at the presidential palace, Cooper and Barrack expressed gratitude for Syria’s role in supporting the fight against ISIS.

“Eliminating the threat of ISIS in Syria will reduce the risk of attacks on U.S. territory, while advancing President Trump’s vision of a prosperous Middle East and a stable Syria living peacefully with its neighbours,” CENTCOM said in a statement.

U.S. officials additionally lauded Syria’s assistance in locating missing American citizens within its borders. President al-Sharaa was commended for his commitment to furthering Washington’s objectives in the region, including efforts to integrate various armed groups into Syria’s central government forces. 

CENTCOM emphasised that the three leaders pledged to meet again to ensure ongoing collaboration in countering ISIS.

From Damascus, the Syrian president’s office highlighted that discussions centred on enhancing political and military cooperation, advancing mutual interests, and promoting security and stability within Syria and across the region.

By Tamilla Hasanova