, Nov. 9 -- Sharaa arrived in the United States on Saturday for an official visit, during which Washington aims to enlist Damascus in the global coalition against ISIL, also known as ISIS, state media reported.

Al-Sharaa's arrival coincided with Syria's Ministry of Interior announcing a "large-scale security operation" targeting ISIL cells across the country. The operations, carried out in Aleppo, Idlib, Hama, Homs, and the Damascus countryside, involved 61 raids that led to at least 71 arrests and the seizure of explosives and weapons, according to the ministry. Syrian state media described the campaign as part of "ongoing national efforts to combat terrorism and protect public safety."

Al-Sharaa, whose rebel forces ousted longtime rul...