Syrian President Al-Sharaa arrived in Washington, D.C., late Saturday for high-stakes talks with US President Donald Trump, marking the first visit by a Syrian leader to the United States in more than seventy years. The historic trip comes just a day after Washington removed Al-Sharaa from its “terrorist” sanctions list, signaling a potential diplomatic shift in US-Syria relations.
According to officials, the two leaders will meet at the White House on Monday to discuss Syria’s possible inclusion in the international coalition against ISIL. The visit follows Al Sharaa’s earlier meeting with Trump in Riyadh and growing international efforts to stabilize the war-torn Middle Eastern nation.
Coinciding with the visit, Syria’s Interior Ministry launched a nationwide crackdown on ISIL networks. Authorities confirmed 61 coordinated raids across Aleppo, Idlib, Hama, Homs, and the Damascus countryside, resulting in 71 arrests and the seizure of explosives and weapons. State media described the operation as part of ongoing efforts “to combat terrorism and ensure public safety.”
US officials are reportedly preparing to establish a military presence at an airbase in Damascus as part of a new security pact between Syria and Israel. Analysts suggest the move could strengthen regional stability and support Syria’s reconstruction an effort the World Bank estimates will cost around $216 billion.
Al-Sharaa, who once had ties to al-Qaeda before leading Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a faction that later fought ISIL, was officially delisted as a terrorist by the US in July. His recent address to the UN General Assembly and the UN Security Council’s decision to lift sanctions against him last week have further paved the way for his return to the global diplomatic stage.
With these rapid developments, Al-Sharaa’s US visit could mark a turning point for Syria’s international rehabilitation and its fight against terrorism.
