Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa landed in the United States Saturday for a groundbreaking official visit—the first by a Syrian leader since independence in 1946—just one day after Washington lifted him from its terrorism blacklist.
President al-Sharaa, whose Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) forces toppled Bashar al-Assad last year, is scheduled to meet US President Donald Trump at the White House on Monday. The two leaders first connected in Riyadh during Trump’s May regional tour.
President Ahmad al-#Sharaa met with representatives of Syrian-American organizations in Washington on Sunday, according to a statement by the Presidency on its Telegram channel. Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Asaad Hassan al-#Shaibani attended the meeting. pic.twitter.com/KDTaRZOl3Y
— SANAEnglishOfficial (@SANAEnOfficial) November 9, 2025
State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott announced the delisting Friday, citing Syria’s progress on locating missing Americans, eliminating chemical weapons, and fostering an inclusive political process. “These actions recognize the Syrian leadership’s advances after over 50 years of Assad repression,” Pigott said, emphasizing benefits for regional security.
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US envoy Tom Barrack indicated al-Sharaa may sign an accord joining the global anti-IS coalition. A diplomatic source revealed plans for a US military base near Damascus to coordinate aid and monitor Syria-Israel dynamics.
Upon arrival, al-Sharaa posted a lighthearted video playing basketball with Centcom commander Brad Cooper and anti-IS chief Kevin Lambert, captioned “work hard, play harder.”
Syria’s interior ministry reported 61 raids and 71 arrests targeting IS sleeper cells across seven provinces, underscoring ongoing counter-terrorism efforts.
This visit follows al-Sharaa’s September UN General Assembly address and Thursday’s Security Council vote lifting UN sanctions. With HTS delisted in July, the trip symbolizes al-Sharaa’s remarkable shift from jihadist to statesman, as noted by International Crisis Group’s Michael Hanna.
Amid Syria’s $216 billion reconstruction needs, al-Sharaa is expected to seek international funding, marking a pivotal step toward stability and global reintegration.
