Syrian President calls for direct U.S. dialogue on ISIS, regional security
DAMASCUS, Syria (North Press) – In an interview with Fox News on Monday night, Syrian Transitional President Ahmad al-Sharaa stressed the importance of direct communication between Damascus and Washington regarding the Islamic State (ISIS) and broader regional security issues.
“While there are reasons for the U.S. military presence in Syria, this presence must now be coordinated with the Syrian government. We need to discuss these issues and reach an agreement regarding ISIS,” al-Sharaa said.
He added that his visit to the United States marks a new phase in Syria’s international relations, expressing hope that it could open a new chapter between the two countries.
Al-Sharaa noted that “The goal is for Syria to no longer be seen as a security threat but as a geopolitical ally and a country where the U.S. can invest significantly, especially in gas extraction.”
On Monday, al-Sharaa met with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House, marking the first official visit by a Syrian president to Washington.
Addressing the question of negotiations with Israel, al-Sharaa said, “I believe that this situation in Syria is different from the situation of the countries who went on with the Abrahamic agreement.”
He added, “Syria has borders with Israel, and Israel has occupied the Golan Heights since 1967.”
Al-Sharaa clarified that while the United States could play a mediating role in the future through the framework of the Abraham Accords, however he added “We are not going to enter into a negotiation directly right now.”