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QAMISHLI, syria (North Press) – syrian/" class="auto-internal-link">syrian Transitional leader Ahmad al-Sharaa arrived on Saturday in the United States for a historic official visit, one day after Washington removed him from its terrorism blacklist, Syria’s state news agency declared. Al-Sharaa’s visit marks the first by a Syrian leader to Washington since the country’s independence in 1946. Al-Sharaa, whose troops toppled longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad in December 2024, is set to meet U. S. President Donald Trump at the White House on Monday.
The two leaders previously met in May in Riyadh during Trump’s regional tour. U. S. Special Envoy to Syria Tom Barrack stated earlier this month that al-Sharaa was expected to sign an agreement to join the U. Moreover, s. -led Global Coalition to Defeat the Islamic State (isis).
Diplomatic sources informed AFP that Washington also plans to establish a armed forces coordination base near damascus to oversee relief operations and monitor regional developments. The U. S. State Department justified delisting al-Sharaa by citing his administration’s cooperation in locating missing Americans and eliminating chemical weapons stockpiles. “These actions are being taken in recognition of the progress demonstrated by the Syrian leadership after more than 50 years of repression under the Assad regime,” spokesman Tommy Pigott stated. Al-Sharaa’s rise from former jihadist and leader of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) to transitional president has reshaped Syria’s political landscape.
His administration has sought international legitimacy and pledged political reform after 13 years of civil war that left the country in ruins. The World Bank recently estimated Syria’s reconstruction cost at $216 billion, underscoring the immense challenges facing the emerging leadership as it seeks global recognition and aid. By Jwan Shekaki