US Candidate to Lead Anti-ISIS Coalition: Syrian President Ahmad al-Shar’a Is a Key Partner

Yesterday, Vice admiral Brad Cooper, the U.S. nominee to lead the international coalition against ISIS, stated that his country views Syrian President Ahmad al-Shar’a as "a vital partner in the fight against the group."

Cooper added that despite Syria’s fragile situation, the United States was right to support President al-Shar’a.

When asked about the bombing of St. Elias Church in Damascus, the admiral remarked that "ISIS thrives in chaos" and stressed the need to assess Syria’s complex reality before any further reduction in troop numbers."

The Pentagon recently reduced American forces in Syria sharply, from 2,000 troops to fewer than 1,000.

During his confirmation hearing before the Pentagon’s Armed Services Committee, Cooper said that "the emerging Syrian government, seven months into its formation, could help suppress ISIS in partnership with U.S. forces contributing to stability that benefits U.S. security."

The coalition leadership had encouraged SDF commander Mazloum Abdi to reach an agreement with al-Shar’a after his rise to power, leading to a deal signed between the two men on March 10, 2025.

However, the SDF recently demanded constitutional guarantees for Kurdish rights and a decentralized democratic rule in Syria (not included in the deal) to uphold the agreement — demands repeatedly rejected by Damascus.

Despite the disputes, some progress was made on the ground, including a prisoner exchange. Yet, the implementation of other provisions — such as transferring Kurdish-majority neighborhoods in Aleppo and the Tishrin Dam to government security forces — stalled amid mutual accusations.

The Mazloum–Shar’a agreement is set to expire at the end of this year. Tensions may escalate if implementation fails, especially amid Turkish warnings rejecting any form of separatism or decentralization in Syria.

Moumin Sawady