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, eleven 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 ISIS were arrested and that weapons and explosives were also seized.
Since taking power, Sharaa has aimed to reestablish Syria's presence on the world stage following decades of isolation under the Assad regime and 13 years of civil war.
Earlier this month, Sharaa traveled to the US to address the UN General Assembly, calling for the international community to remove sanctions against Syria.
This visit follows the UN Security Council backing a US resolution to lift sanctions, aligning with Washington’s ongoing efforts to ease restrictions on Syria's new leadership.
On Friday, Sharaa and his interior minister, Anas Hasan Khattab, were removed from the US list of individuals suspected of supporting extremist groups, reflecting the progress reported by Syrian leadership.
Sharaa had previously been listed under the name Muhammad al-Jawlani, the alias used as the leader of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), an organization affiliated with al-Qaeda until 2016.
Trump had previously met Sharaa in May during a visit to Riyadh, describing him as a 'tough guy' with a strong background.
Despite his past, Sharaa has garnered support from governments opposing the Assad regime, pledging to lead a moderate government that represents Syria's diverse factions.
Violence has persisted in recent months, including clashes between Sunni Bedouin tribal fighters and Druze militias, raising concerns about the stability of the HTS-led government in a nation scarred by over a decade of war.
