US lifts sanctions on Syria’s Ahmed al-Sharaa before Trump meeting
The United States lifted sanctions on Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa ahead of a White House meeting with President Donald Trump.
Al-Sharaa, 43, a former member of al Qaeda, was named transitional president after he led rebels against former President Bashar al-Assad in Dec. 2024.
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On Friday, he was no longer deemed a Specially Designated Global Terrorist by the US State Department which also announced that Syrian Interior Minister Anas Khattab was being cleared of the same designation by the Department of Treasury.
“These actions are being taken in recognition of the progress demonstrated by the Syrian leadership after the departure of Bashar al-Assad and more than 50 years of repression under the Assad regime,” reads the State Department announcement.
“This new Syrian government, led by President al-Sharaa, is working hard to locate missing Americans, fulfill its commitments on countering terrorism and narcotiscs, eliminating any remnants of chemical weapons, and promoting regional security and stability as well as an inclusive, Syrian-led and Syrian-owned political process,” the agency concluded.
The United Nations on Friday lifted their own sanctions against the upstart regime on Thursday.
Al-Sharaa is expected to be at the White House on Monday, Nov. 10, where he will meet with President Trump and become the first ever Syrian president to see the Oval Office.
The pair of world leaders met in May during the commander in chief’s visit to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, with al-Sharaa making a favorable impression on Trump.
“Tough guy. Strong past. Very strong past. Fighter,” Trump said immediately after meeting the former al Qaeda leader. “He’s got a real shot at holding it together.”
After that meeting, Trump lifted all US sanctions on the nation of Syria.
Al-Sharaa set the internet ablaze last month, when he appeared to flirt with reporter Margaret Brennan during a “60 Minutes” interview.
“When you met President Trump back in May, he described you as handsome, tough, and said you had a strong past,” Brennan said.
Al-Sharaa smirked and said in Arabic, “Have you any doubt about that?”
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