Syria Conducts Raids Targeting Islamic State as President Visits US
SyriaS Interior Ministry announced Saturday that nationwide preemptive security operations have been conducted targeting Islamic State cells. According to a ministry spokesperson, 61 raids resulted in the arrest of 71 individuals and the seizure of explosives and weapons. The announcement coincided with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa‘s arrival in Washington D.C. for talks with President Donald Trump.
President Sharaa’s visit follows a decision by the US government to remove him from a terrorism blacklist on Friday, a move that was widely anticipated. He is expected to discuss joining the US-led international coalition against Islamic State.US envoy to Syria, Tom Barrack, stated earlier this month that Sharaa would “hopefully” sign an agreement to join the alliance.
A State Department spokesperson indicated that the decision to remove Sharaa from the blacklist was based on his government’s cooperation with US demands, specifically regarding efforts to locate missing Americans and eliminate any remaining chemical weapons stockpiles. This followed a vote led by Washington at the UN Security Council on Thursday to lift UN sanctions against him.
Sharaa’s former group, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, which was previously affiliated with al-Qaida, was delisted as a terrorist organization by Washington in July.
Sources familiar with the matter have reported that the US is preparing to establish a military presence at an airbase in Damascus to support a security agreement being brokered between Syria and Israel. A US administration official has also stated that Washington is continually assessing its military needs in Syria to effectively combat Islamic State.
The US State Department and Pentagon have not yet responded to requests for comment regarding President Sharaa’s visit or potential agreements.
