Syria will help the US take on Iran’s Guards and Hezbollah as part of a sharp turn in its ties with Washington, US special envoy for Syria Tom Barrack said on Thursday in a post on his X.
“Damascus will now actively assist us in confronting and dismantling the remnants of ISIS, the IRGC, Hamas, Hezbollah, and other terrorist networks, and will stand as a committed partner in the global effort to secure peace,” Barrack wrote, saying the pledge came during Syrian President Ahmed al Sharaa’s visit to the White House, the first by a Syrian head of state since independence.
Al Sharaa told the Washington Post this week that Syria had driven out Iranian and Hezbollah forces and was ready for a new phase with the US after decades of strain. He said Syria and Israel were in direct talks and had made progress toward a deal, and he said Israel should pull back to its pre Dec 8 lines to seal an accord. He said President Donald Trump backed the push.
He added that Syria wanted a working tie with Russia to secure its vote at the UN Security Council even as the two sides tried to settle the future of former president Bashar al Assad, who is in Russia. He said Syria wanted to bring Assad to justice and would press its case.
Washington has suspended most sanctions on Syria for 180 days while keeping curbs tied to Iran and Russia. US officials removed al Sharaa from a terror list before the visit as part of the effort to reopen ties.
