In an astonishing development, the Syrian imprisoned in American prisons in Iraq on charges of jihad was yesterday alone with Donald Trump in the Oval Office, on the first official trip by a head of state from his country since 1946. … The main goal of the visit of Ahmed al-Sharaa, formerly known as Abu Muhammad al-Julani and today’s president of Syria, was to move toward his country’s formal inclusion in the global coalition against ISIS (known as the Islamic State), negotiate an easing of the sanctions that continue to burden his government and establish military cooperation with the United States.
Washington is considering opening a limited presence at an air base near Damascus, which is a new matter. According to information from Reuters, Syrian officials indicated that the facility would be used for logistics operations, surveillance, resupply and humanitarian aid, with Syria retaining sovereignty over the site. The technical talks began following the visit of the head of US Central Command, Admiral Brad Cooper, to Damascus on September 12, where the president thanked Shara for his cooperation against ISIS and stressed the goal of achieving a “stable Syria.” At peace with itself and its neighbors.”
he A trip from Shara to Washington It symbolizes a profound change in US policy towards Syria. Trump began lifting sanctions in May, then praised Sharaa as a “strong man” and signed an executive order in June that removed most economic restrictions.
However, the visit took place behind closed doors, which is unusual for Trump’s bilateral meetings. He was not received at the door of the western wing, but rather entered through a side entrance, through an annex. He was not invited to stay at the official residence of Blair House, where foreign heads of state usually reside. After all, the man who called himself Al-Julani was arrested in Iraq on charges of attacking American soldiers and participating in armed rebellion against the American occupation.
Sanctions have been lifted
On Monday, the Treasury Department suspended the Caesar Act for 180 days, which only Congress can repeal. It was approved in 2019, imposing sanctions on the Syrian government, its allies, and those who support it. It is named after a military photographer who documented war crimes and sought to hold Bashar al-Assad’s regime accountable for human rights abuses, and to limit its funding through blockades and travel restrictions on individuals and entities associated with it around the world.
Al-Sharaa, who has now become a statesman who meets with world leaders under the protection of Saudi Arabia, seeks to strengthen his alliance with the United States after the lifting of sanctions on the former Assad regime and Washington’s mediation with his internal and external competitors.
He was removed from the sanctions lists issued by the United Nations and the State Department, along with Interior Minister Anas Khattab, “in recognition of the progress shown by the Syrian leadership after Assad’s departure.” Formally joining the international coalition against ISIS — the same group it fought after breaking away from Al Qaeda in 2017 — would be a tactical victory for Trump in his campaign to pacify the Middle East and strengthen agreements between Arab countries and Israel.
The World Bank estimates the cost of rebuilding Syria at about $216 billion. Easing sanctions will allow the country to reconnect with the international financial system and import goods to restore its infrastructure and basic services.
Critics of the new government cite recent incidents of sectarian violence in the coastal and southern regions, with massacres attributed to forces under its command, which cast doubt on its promises of national reconciliation. However, Washington retains a strategic interest in supporting Sharaa as an ally to reduce its military presence in Syria and strengthen the fight against ISIS.
Agreement with ISIS
Currently there is between 900 and 1,000 American soldiers in SyriaThis is a smaller number compared to the maximum of about 2,000 soldiers deployed previously. Most of these forces are stationed in the northeast of the country, where they cooperate with the Syrian Democratic Forces militias in the fight against ISIS, while a small detachment remains at the Al-Tanf base in the south. The US military presence remains a source of international debate, especially since Türkiye, a NATO ally, considers the Syrian Democratic Forces a hostile organization.
The Trump administration mediated between the Syrian government and the Syrian Democratic Forces to integrate them into the national military structure, and is also seeking to reach a security agreement between Damascus and Israel that includes a demilitarized zone south of the capital.
Al-Sharaa expressed his willingness to restore the lands occupied by Israel since last December, although he currently rejects a full normalization agreement such as the one promoted by Washington in the region. During his first term, Trump recognized Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights, occupied since the 1967 war.
Shara in the White House
In parallel, the new Syrian leader has brought closer positions with Russia, his former opponent, although he considers American support necessary to access funds from the Gulf and contain Israeli attacks, which have been repeated in recent months inside Syrian territory.
Bashar al-Assad fell at the end of 2024, after fourteen years of civil war and the collapse of the regime due to internal divisions, international sanctions, and a deep economic crisis. The final disintegration came when military factions from the north and south rebelled, while former allies such as Russia and Iran decisively reduced their support. Russia, above all, because it is involved in the war in Ukraine.
In this context, Al-Sharaa emerged as a consensual figure among the various Syrian factions. His rise received tacit support from many Arab countries, which saw him as an alternative to Iranian influence.
The meeting lasted about two hours, after which Trump will meet a week later with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, an ally of Al-Sharaa.
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