In a landmark visit to Washington, Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa announced his country’s decision to join the U.S.-led international coalition, formed in 2014, against the Islamic State (ISIS). The move followed strong encouragement from U.S. president Donald Trump during their first meeting at the White House on Monday, November 10th.
The 43-year-old ‘former’ terrorist’s landmark visit to the Oval Office came just days after Washington removed him from its terrorism list (lifting a $10m/€8.65m bounty for his capture). Sharaa’s group, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), was previously affiliated with Al-Qaeda.
While Syria’s government emphasized that the decision has “no military implications,” it represents a major diplomatic shift for the war-torn country. “We will do everything to ensure Syria’s success,” Trump said after the meeting, expressing confidence in al-Sharaa’s leadership.
Al-Sharaa, once labeled a terrorist and leader of the Sunni militant group HTS, came to power after overthrowing Bashar al-Assad last year. His visit—the first by a Syrian head of state since 1946—also focused on lifting remaining U.S. sanctions.
Speaking to Fox News, al-Sharaa said he and Trump discussed investment opportunities and rebuilding Syria’s economy. The U.S. Treasury later extended a 180-day suspension of Caesar Act sanctions, suggesting cautious optimism in Washington toward renewed cooperation.
The partial rehabilitation of the current regime comes despite widespread concerns about the persecution of religious minorities in Syria.
