Syrian President Meets New US CENTCOM Chief to Discuss Security and Cooperatio

Photo:AFP

DAMASCUS: Syrian President Ahmed Al-Sharaa met Admiral Brad Cooper, the new head of the United States Central Command (CENTCOM), in Damascus on Friday. The meeting, also attended by US special envoy for Syria Tom Barrack, focused on ways to strengthen cooperation between Syria and the United States in both political and military areas.

The Syrian presidency said the talks aimed to “serve shared interests and build stronger foundations for security and stability in Syria and the region.” Officials described the meeting as positive and said it reflected a mutual interest in improving communication and the strategic partnership between Damascus and Washington.

CENTCOM said that Cooper and Barrack thanked President Sharaa for Syria’s support in fighting Daesh, also known as the Islamic State. They noted that reducing the threat of Daesh in Syria would help lower the risk of attacks on the United States and would support President Donald Trump’s vision of a peaceful and stable Middle East. The US officials also praised Syria for helping recover US citizens who went missing or were harmed during the civil war in Syria, which began in 2011.

The United States has maintained troops in Syria for many years to combat Daesh and protect its interests. In April, the Pentagon announced plans to reduce US forces in Syria to fewer than 1,000 as part of a “consolidation” of military presence. Barrack said that eventually, all but one US base in Syria would be closed. However, the US continues to carry out targeted raids and strikes to prevent Daesh from regaining strength.

Admiral Cooper was appointed CENTCOM commander in early August. His responsibilities include overseeing US military operations across the Middle East. Earlier this month, he visited Israel for the first time since taking the post, highlighting the importance of US cooperation with regional allies.

Israel has conducted hundreds of airstrikes in Syria since the overthrow of Bashar Assad in December. Despite this, the US and Israel continue to explore dialogue with Syria’s transitional authorities to improve stability in the region.

Experts say this high-level meeting shows that even amid complex conflicts, diplomacy remains important. By opening channels of communication, both sides hope to reduce misunderstandings, coordinate on security, and work toward a more stable and peaceful Syria and Middle East.

The meeting reflects the careful balance between diplomacy and military strategy in the region. While US forces are gradually reducing their presence, continued dialogue with Syrian leaders may help address security concerns and prevent the resurgence of extremist groups.