Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa is scheduled to visit Washington on November 8 to sign a formal agreement integrating Syria into the U.S. led coalition against ISIS, U.S. Special Envoy to Syria and Ambassador to Turkey Tom Barrack has confirmed.

The announcement, made during the annual Manama Dialogue security summit, marks a significant shift in regional counterterrorism strategy following the 2024 overthrow of Bashar al-Assad.

Barrack described the pact as a pragmatic response to shared threats, emphasizing Syria’s strategic role in combating ISIS remnants. “This isn’t about alliances of convenience but shared threats – ISIS doesn’t respect borders, and neither should our response,” he told reporters, outlining the agreement’s focus on intelligence sharing, joint operations, and capacity building for Syrian security forces.

Al-Sharaa, formerly known as Abu Mohammed al-Jolani during his leadership of Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), assumed the presidency in late 2024 after HTS-led rebels ousted Assad. His administration has pledged moderation and inclusivity in rebuilding Syria, though his past affiliations with al-Qaeda have drawn scrutiny from regional actors, including Turkey.

U.S. officials have characterized the agreement as non-binding but operational, with initial support including aid packages for Syrian counterterror units and U.S.-led training programs at Jordanian military bases. The move comes amid renewed ISIS activity in eastern Syria’s Deir ez-Zor province, where attacks in 2025 have claimed over 200 civilian lives.

Critics, including exiled Assad loyalists and Iranian and Russian envoys attending the Manama summit, have condemned the pact, arguing it legitimizes a regime with jihadist roots and infringes on Syrian sovereignty. Nonetheless, Syria’s inclusion expands the coalition—active since 2014 and now comprising 86 nations—which has significantly weakened ISIS’s territorial control but continues to face challenges in Africa and Afghanistan.

Al-Sharaa’s upcoming White House visit signals a diplomatic pivot, following recent outreach to Moscow and Tehran aimed at normalizing Syria’s international standing. Barrack hinted at potential economic incentives, including sanctions relief, contingent on Syria meeting human rights benchmarks.

Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa praised the development in his keynote address, calling it “prudent cooperation.” While the full details of the agreement remain classified, sources indicate it is narrowly focused on counter-ISIS efforts and avoids broader normalization of U.S.-Syria relations.