US General Highlights Close US–Syria Cooperation to Counter ISIL

US Central Command head Brad Cooper said the United States has carried out multiple joint operations with Syrian government forces to counter ISIL (ISIS) threats, signaling an unexpected operational link between Washington and Damascus.

Operational Cooperation and Recent Strike

Speaking virtually at a Middle East Institute event, Cooper said the US military is working to "foster cooperation" with Syrian authorities and has already collaborated on "very specific" counter-ISIL actions. He cited a recent southern Syria operation in which US forces and the Syrian Ministry of Interior located and destroyed 15 ISIS weapons sites.

"This operation eliminated over 130 mortars and rockets, multiple small arms, antitank mines, IED material and illicit drugs," Cooper said.

SDF Integration And Regional Implications

Cooper also described American support for integrating the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) into Syrian state institutions, saying such a move could create "a more predictable and stable security environment." The SDF, backed by the US, controls much of northeastern Syria and has exercised de facto self-rule; an agreement in March aimed to fold SDF fighters into state structures, though occasional clashes have continued.

Political Context And Other Actors

The general framed the cooperation as part of a broader shift in Damascus’s regional posture, noting that Syria recently joined the US-led coalition against ISIL after President Ahmed al-Sharaa visited Washington. Cooper thanked Syrian authorities for intercepting weapons bound for Hezbollah in Lebanon and said US forces will continue an "active role" in supporting diplomatic initiatives aimed at stabilising Syria.

What Cooper Did Not Address: He did not comment on ongoing Israeli air strikes and operations inside Syria, which Israel says target threats to its security. Observers note that multiple regional actors continue to operate in Syrian airspace and on the ground, complicating the security picture.

Outlook

While ISIL’s territorial caliphate was dismantled in 2019, remnants remain a regional threat. Cooper expressed cautious optimism about the prospects for greater stability if cooperation between the Syrian government, the SDF and international partners continues.