QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – Reports that the Syrian transitional government may soon join the U.S.-led Global Coalition to Defeat the Islamic State (ISIS) during Transitional President Ahmad al-Sharaa’s anticipated visit to Washington have prompted a wave of mixed reactions among Syrian and Iraqi analysts.
While some see the move as a milestone that could redefine Syria’s regional and international standing, others caution that the decision could expose Damascus to complex political and security challenges once it becomes a formal party to the coalition.
Joining but with conditions
Syrian political analyst Samir Abu Saleh told North Press that the transitional government’s main objective is to establish security across Syrian territory, describing ISIS terrorism as a threat “to both the state and the Syrian people.”
“It is only natural for the Syrian state to be militarily and politically engaged against anyone who threatens its security,” Abu Saleh said, adding that Damascus’s participation in international counterterrorism efforts is “both natural and expected.”
However, he warned of a domestic challenge stemming from “foreign or non-Syrian members” who joined Syria’s security institutions after the war.
“Some of these figures remain controversial and are viewed by international actors as associated with terrorist groups, which could hinder Syria’s full integration into the global counterterrorism effort,” he noted.
Complex commitments and coordination with the SDF
Walid Choli, a Syrian Kurdish researcher at the al-Furat Center for Studies, told North Press that Syria’s commitments after joining the Coalition would be “far more complex and demanding than those of other countries,” due to the ongoing presence of ISIS cells and unresolved post-war issues.
“Damascus will inherit a heavy legacy of ISIS-related files, including detainees, displaced families, and sleeper cells scattered across the desert,” Choli said, pointing out that some detained fighters’ cases pose “major legal and security challenges.”
He emphasized that overlapping security structures and the continued presence of foreign fighters in Syria “increase the sensitivity of managing this file.”
Joining the Coalition, he said, “will not be a mere military step, but a conditional agreement imposing extensive obligations — from intelligence cooperation to greater transparency in political and security reform.”
Chouli added that the Coalition, comprising more than 80 member states, will require Syria to adopt “clear legal and administrative standards” in handling ISIS-related issues — including the prosecution of fighters, rehabilitation of individuals affected by extremist ideology, and preventing the politicization of the issue.
He underscored that success would largely depend on “Damascus’s seriousness in cooperating with the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), the most effective force in the fight against ISIS.” Implementing the March 10 Agreement, he said, “will be the cornerstone of a genuine national coordination and security partnership in the new Syria.”
Toward a genuine political process
Iraqi political analyst Asaad al-Abadi said that Syria’s prospective entry into the Coalition carries significant political weight and would require real concessions from the transitional government, “foremost among them, engaging in a genuine and inclusive political process.”
He told North Press that joining the Coalition could help address the issue of foreign fighters by “enhancing intelligence cooperation, facilitating prosecutions, and increasing pressure on remaining ISIS cells.”
However, al-Abadi cautioned that realizing these goals “depends on a fundamental shift in international and regional positions — as well as a change in Damascus’s own approach.” He concluded that while the move could open a new chapter for Syria, it would demand consistent commitment, transparency, and cooperation from all parties involved.
Reporting by Abdulsalam Khoja