In a surprising diplomatic step, U.S. President Donald Trump welcomed Syrian interim leader Ahmad al-Sharaa to the White House on Monday. The closed-door Oval Office meet is a big move toward normalizing ties between Washington and Damascus. 🤝
Both sides have clear agendas. Syria wants the permanent repeal of the Caesar Act sanctions, a move that needs congressional approval. Meanwhile, the U.S. hopes to bring Syria into the global coalition against the Islamic State (IS) group. 🌍
Earlier this year, Trump waived those sanctions for 180 days after meeting al-Sharaa in Saudi Arabia. This latest sit-down could pave the way for a longer lift—or even full repeal—if Congress signs off.
On the ground, Syria has launched major security operations across several provinces to hunt down IS cells, according to the country’s interior authorities. 💥
The visit follows a unanimous UN Security Council vote to remove al-Sharaa and interim interior minister Anas Khattab from IS and al-Qaeda sanctions lists. The White House also lifted U.S. sanctions on them, clearing the diplomatic path.
Al-Sharaa’s journey from a former al-Qaeda affiliate to the rebel leader who helped end Syria’s 14-year civil war is nothing short of dramatic—and now he’s at the heart of a potential U.S.-Syria reset. Stay tuned as this story unfolds! 🚀
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U.S., Syria eye reset as Trump meets al-Sharaa at White House
cgtn.com
