NYT reveals al-Sharaa’s covert role in Coalition’s fight against extremism
QAMISHLO, Syria (North Press) –
Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa has been secretly cooperating with the US-led Global Coalition against the Islamic State (ISIS) and al-Qaeda since 2016, according to a report published Wednesday by The New York Times.
The revelations come days after al-Sharaa’s first official visit to the White House, where he met with US President Donald Trump.
The report states that al-Sharaa, who previously led Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) in northwest Syria, began covert coordination with coalition forces shortly after assuming control over territories in Idlib and Aleppo. During that period, he reportedly engaged in direct military confrontations with ISIS and played a key role in expelling the group from several areas.
On Monday, al-Sharaa signed a formal declaration of political and military cooperation with the Global Coalition. Syrian Minister of Information Hamza al-Mustafa confirmed the agreement, describing it as “a new phase in Syrian-American relations after decades of estrangement and tension.”
Al-Mustafa posted on X, formerly Twitter, that the meeting between al-Sharaa and Trump was “marked by warmth, candor, and a forward-looking approach,” and included senior US officials such as Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Vice President J.D. Vance.
Western diplomats and Syrian officials cited by The New York Times revealed that al-Sharaa had provided sensitive intelligence on the whereabouts of ISIS and al-Qaeda leadership within Syria. This intelligence reportedly facilitated several coalition airstrikes targeting high-value militant positions, under a secret understanding that lasted for years.
Al-Sharaa’s cooperation with the Coalition remained undisclosed until his recent visit to Washington, which marked the first time a Syrian head of state has entered the White House since Syria’s independence. His appearance followed his removal from international terrorist lists and the lifting of a $10 million bounty previously placed on him.
The Syrian government has not issued an official statement beyond the remarks from the Information Minister. The US-led coalition has also refrained from commenting publicly on the intelligence-sharing claims.