On Saturday, US Special Envoy for the Syrian crisis, Tom Barrack, stated that Syrian President Ahmed Sharaa is set to visit Washington, DC. Barrack made the announcement while attending the annual global security and geopolitical summit “Manama Dialogue” held in Bahrain. He mentioned that during Sharaa’s visit, there is a possibility of Syria joining the US-led alliance to combat the terrorist organization Islamic State (ISIS).
According to sources familiar with the matter in Syria, the visit is expected to take place within the next two weeks. If Sharaa proceeds with the visit, he would be the first Syrian head of state to officially visit the US capital. Throughout the years, there has never been a Syrian president who has made an official visit to Washington, according to records from the US State Department regarding visits of foreign leaders to the US.
Sharaa had delivered a speech at the United Nations General Assembly in New York in September. Since assuming power from Bashar al-Assad in December last year, Sharaa’s transitional government has embarked on a series of diplomatic trips aimed at rebuilding Syria’s relationships with major global powers, with whom Damascus was shunned during Assad’s rule.
Barrack emphasized that Washington is hoping to facilitate Syria’s involvement in the US-led alliance established since 2014 to combat ISIS. During the years of ISIS dominance from 2014 to 2017, the terrorist group controlled approximately one-third of the territory within Syria and its neighboring country, Iraq.
“We are working towards making all parties alliance partners, which is crucial for them,” stated Barrack. Sharaa had once led a branch of Al Qaeda in Syria, but ten years ago, his anti-Assad rebels distanced themselves from the network founded by Osama bin Laden, leading to conflicts with ISIS in subsequent years.
In 2019, a US-led coalition and its local allies managed to drive ISIS out of its last stronghold in Syria. Sources revealed to Reuters in June this year that ISIS is attempting to regroup in Syria and Iraq following the potential downfall of the Assad regime.
During the summit, Barrack also disclosed ongoing negotiations between Syria and Israel mediated by the US to ease tensions between the two countries. Although both parties are close to reaching an agreement, Barrack declined to disclose a specific timeline. The Damascus government hopes to halt Israeli airstrikes and prompt the withdrawal of Israeli troops currently deployed in southern Syria.
Sources in Syria indicate that the US is pushing for Sharaa to reach a security agreement with Israel before his visit to Washington. Israel and Syria have been arch-enemies for decades. Despite the overthrow of the Assad regime last December, territorial disputes between the two countries and deep-rooted political suspicions remain unresolved.
(Reference: Reuters)