Syria's Sharaa Visits US After Sanctions Lifted for High-Level Talks

Sun Nov 09 2025 17:29:43 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Syrian President Ahmed Sharaa arrives in Washington after the US lifts sanctions, highlighting a shift in diplomatic relations.

Syrian President Ahmed Sharaa has officially arrived in Washington for a meeting with US President Donald Trump, following the recent lifting of sanctions against him. Sharaa's visit, just days after the US revoked his designation as a 'Specially Designated Global Terrorist', comes amid efforts to address ongoing security concerns related to the Islamic State. The meeting is seen as a critical step towards re-establishing Syria's presence on the world stage after years of isolation.

Syrian President Ahmed Sharaa has arrived in Washington for an official visit, just two days after the US formally revoked his status as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist.

The former Islamist militant will meet US President Donald Trump at the White House on Monday, 11 months after his rebel alliance ousted Bashar al-Assad.

Hours before his arrival in the US capital, it was announced that Syrian security services had detained dozens of suspected members of the so-called Islamic State group. Joint efforts to tackle what remains of the group in Syria are expected to be high on the agenda during Sharaa's talks with Trump.

Syrian authorities reported that 71 suspected members of the group were arrested, with weapons and explosives seized.

Since taking power, Sharaa has aimed to reestablish Syria's presence on the world stage after decades of isolation under the Assad regime and 13 years of civil war.

Sharaa traveled to the US in September to address the UN General Assembly, where he emphasized Syria's need for international support and called for the removal of sanctions.

Earlier this week, the UN Security Council backed a US resolution to lift measures, coinciding with Washington's gradual easing of sanctions on Syria and its new leaders.

On Friday, Sharaa and his interior minister, Anas Hasan Khattab, were removed from a US register of individuals suspected of supporting extremist groups, a recognition of the progress made by the Syrian leadership.

Sharaa had been listed under the name Muhammad al-Jawlani, the alias used as the leader of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which severed its ties with al-Qaeda in 2016.

Notably, Sharaa fought for al-Qaeda in Iraq and was once imprisoned by US forces, leading to an American bounty of $10 million on his head.

The US had previously lifted sanctions on HTS earlier this year.

Trump met Sharaa in May in Riyadh, describing him as a 'tough guy' with a 'very strong past'.

Despite his controversial background, Sharaa has gained support from governments opposing the Assad regime, promising to lead a moderate government that can unify Syria's diverse factions.

In light of increasing violence between Sunni Bedouin fighters and Druze militias, questions remain about whether Sharaa's government can stabilize a nation ravaged by war for over a decade.