Cooper: Syria Is the Center of Gravity in the Fight Against ISIS, and Cooperation with Damascus Is a Reality to Preserve Stability

Welat TV – Erbil

Charles Bradford Cooper II, commander of the United States Central Command, affirmed that Syria represents the “center of gravity” in the war against the Islamic State, revealing an expansion of American cooperation with Syria’s new government on counterterrorism issues.

During testimony before the United States Senate Armed Services Committee on Thursday, May 14, Cooper explained that the period following the fall of the former regime, along with developments in Gaza and Lebanon, had created a major shift in the regional landscape, describing the current phase as a “pivotal moment” that could reshape the Middle East on more stable foundations.

He noted that Syria officially joined the international coalition against ISIS in November 2025 as part of what he described as “pragmatic” cooperation with Washington while emphasizing that the threat posed by the organization still exists despite a 70% decline in its attacks since 2023.

The testimony also warned that large parts of Syria remain outside the full control of the Syrian state, while the declining role of the Syrian Democratic Forces has raised security concerns related to al-Hol Camp and the possibility of the militant group reactivating its operations.

It further confirmed that the U.S. administration is dealing with Syria’s new government as an established reality, while maintaining communication aimed at supporting stability and preventing the return of civil war, linking Syria’s stability to both regional security and U.S. domestic security.

Cooper had visited Damascus in September 2025, in the first visit by a CENTCOM commander to the Syrian capital, where he met Syrian transitional president Ahmad al-Sharaa to discuss security and military cooperation.