The recent meeting was important because it was the coalition’s first reunion since the January 30 deal between the Syrian government and the Syrian Democratic Forces.
A meeting of officials in Saudi Arabia to discuss anti-ISIS efforts has concluded with high hopes for the next phase in the fight.
The US and Saudi Arabia released a joint statement about the meeting, which was important because Syria’s foreign minister and the US envoy to Syria, Tom Barrack, attended the discussion.
Barrack also met with Syria’s and Saudi Arabia’s foreign ministers in the lead-up to the meeting, which came right after he had held important talks on Syria.
A joint text of the US and Saudi Arabia noted that “The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia hosted a meeting of senior diplomatic and defense officials from the Small Group of the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS/Daesh in Riyadh on February 9, 2026. Saudi Vice Foreign Minister Waleed A. Elkhereiji opened the meeting, which was co-chaired by US Ambassador to Turkiye and Special Envoy for Syria Tom Barrack.”
The recent meeting was important because it was the coalition’s first reunion since the January 30 deal between the Syrian government and the Syrian Democratic Forces.
Members of the Kurdish Internal Security Forces wait for the arrival of the security forces of the Syrian government during the curfew, following an agreement between the Syrian Democratic Forces and the Syrian government, in Qamishli, Syria, February 3, 2026. (credit: REUTERS/Orhan Qereman)
Syria joins key role in anti-ISIS coalition after Riyadh talks
The SDF had been the main coalition partner in Syria until the state also joined the anti-ISIS coalition in November. Now, members of the Coalition are seeking to work with Syria. “Participants welcomed the comprehensive agreement between the Government of Syria and the Syrian Democratic Forces, including the permanent ceasefire and arrangements for the civil and military integration of northeast Syria,” the joint statement noted.
“They noted the Government of Syria’s stated intention to assume national leadership of counter-ISIS efforts and expressed appreciation for the sacrifices made by the Syrian Democratic Forces in the fight against ISIS/Daesh. Participants also thanked the Government of Iraq for its continued leadership in the Defeat ISIS campaign.”
This clearly indicates that the Coalition hopes that Damascus can pick up from where the SDF left off. Damascus will essentially take the lead in Syria now, which makes sense since it is part of the coalition.
The deal with the SDF will help to pave the way for a peaceful transition of this mission.
The SDF sacrificed around 12,000 fighters during the war, new data shows. Among them, around 5,000 of these were Arab fighters, and apparently, the vast majority of the other losses were Kurds. The heavy death toll enabled the Coalition to defeat ISIS in Syria and has kept ISIS in check ever since.
The Coalition meeting also noted that members are working on their priorities. This includes “the swift transfer and safeguarding of ISIS detainees, third-country repatriation, the dignified reintegration of families from al-Hol and Roj camps to their communities of origin, and continued coordination with Damascus and Baghdad on the future of the Defeat ISIS campaign in Syria and Iraq.”
It added, “Participants welcomed the Syrian government as the 90th member of the D-ISIS Coalition. Coalition members underscored their readiness to work closely with the Syrian government and encouraged members to provide direct support to Syrian and Iraqi efforts.”
Around 7,000 ISIS members could be transferred, and report says around 2,200 have been moved to Iraq so far.
“Officials commended Iraq’s efforts to securely detain ISIS fighters and welcomed Syria’s assumption of responsibility for detention facilities and displacement camps housing ISIS fighters and their family members. Participants reiterated the need for countries to take responsibility for and repatriate their nationals from Iraq and Syria,” the statement said.
The Coalition didn’t appear to discuss other areas of the world where ISIS threats may occur. There are extremists, some linked to ISIS, in the Sahel and sub-Saharan Africa, as well as in Asia and Europe.