The text of the following statement was released by the Governments of the United States and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
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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 U.S. Ambassador to Türkiye and Special Envoy for Syria Tom Barrack.
Participants expressed their appreciation to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for hosting the meeting and for its continued role in supporting regional and international efforts to counter terrorism and promote stability.
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. 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.
The participants reaffirmed their priorities, including 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. 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.
Coalition defense officials highlighted the close coordination between diplomatic and military lines of effort. Participants received briefings on the current Defeat ISIS campaign, including ongoing detainee transfer operations. 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.
Coalition members thanked Iraq for its leadership and recognized that the transfer of detainees into Iraqi custody is essential to regional security. They reaffirmed their shared commitment to defeating ISIS/Daesh in Iraq and Syria and pledged continued support to both governments in securing ISIS-affiliated detainees.
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