In a surprising development, a Syrian imprisoned in a US prison in Iraq on charges of jihadism found himself alone with Donald Trump in the Oval Office yesterday on the first official visit by his country’s head of state since 1946. … The main purpose of the visit by Ahmed al-Shallah, formerly known as Abu Mohammed al-Jolani and now Syria’s president, was to move the country towards full membership in the Global Coalition Against Daesh (also known as the Islamic State), negotiate relief from sanctions still weighing on the government, and establish military cooperation with the United States.
The US government is considering starting a limited air presence at an air base near Damascus, but this is new. According to information from Reuters, Syrian officials indicated that the facility would be used for logistics, surveillance, supply and humanitarian operations, while Syria would maintain sovereignty over the site. The technical talks began after a visit to Damascus by Adm. Brad Cooper, the commander of U.S. Central Command, on September 12, where he thanked President Al-Shallah for his cooperation against Daesh and said, “We are committed to a stable Syria and a stable Syria. I am at peace with myself and my neighbors. ”
he Journey from Al Sharaa to Washington This represents a significant change in US policy toward Syria. President Trump began lifting sanctions in May, then praised al-Shara as a “tough guy” and signed an executive order in June lifting most economic restrictions.
Still, the visit was held behind closed doors, unusual for a bilateral meeting by President Trump. He was not greeted at the west wing door, but instead entered through the side of the annex. Nor was he invited to stay at Blair House, the official residence where foreign leaders usually stay. Eventually, the man formerly known as al-Jolani was arrested in Iraq on charges of attacking U.S. soldiers and participating in an armed rebellion against the U.S. occupation.
Sanctions lifted
On Monday of this week, the Treasury Department suspended the Caesar Act for 180 days, which only Congress can repeal. It was approved in 2019 and imposed sanctions on the Syrian government, its allies, and those who support it. It is named after a military photographer who documented war crimes, held Bashar al-Assad’s regime accountable for human rights abuses, and sought to restrict funding through blockades and travel restrictions on relevant individuals and groups around the world.
Al-Sharaa is a politician currently meeting with world leaders under the protection of Saudi Arabia, aiming to strengthen the alliance with the United States by lifting sanctions against the former Assad regime and mediating between the United States’ rivals at home and abroad.
He was removed from United Nations and State Department sanctions lists, along with Interior Minister Anas Khattab, “in recognition of the progress the Syrian leadership has made since Assad’s departure.” Officially joining the United Nations coalition against Daesh (the same group he fought after breaking with al-Qaeda in 2017) would be a tactical victory in President Trump’s campaign to pacify the Middle East and advance a deal between Arab states and Israel.
The World Bank estimates the cost of rebuilding Syria at $216 billion. The easing of sanctions will allow the country to reconnect with the international financial system, import goods and restore infrastructure and basic services.
Critics of the new government have cast doubt on promises of national reconciliation, citing recent sectarian violence in the coastal and southern regions and massacres committed by forces under its command. Nevertheless, the US government maintains a strategic interest in reducing its military presence in Syria and supporting al-Shara as an ally to strengthen the fight against Daesh.
Agreement with Daesh
It is currently between 900 and 1,000 US troops in Syriathat number has decreased compared to the maximum of about 2,000 previously deployed. The majority are located in the northeast of the country and work with the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) militia in the fight against Islamic State, but a small detachment remains at al-Tanf base in the south. The presence of US troops remains a source of international debate, especially since NATO ally Turkiye considers the SDF to be a hostile organization.
The Trump administration is brokering the integration of the Syrian government and the Syrian Democratic Forces into the national military, and is also seeking a security agreement between Damascus and Israel that includes a demilitarized zone south of the capital.
Since December, al-Shallah has expressed its intention to restore Israeli-occupied territory, but has so far rejected a full normalization deal like the one being promoted by the US government in the region. During his first term, President Trump recognized Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights, which had been occupied since the 1967 war.
Al Shara at the White House
In parallel, Syria’s new leader, who has moved closer to his former adversary Russia, considers U.S. support essential to accessing Gulf funding and thwarting repeated Israeli attacks on Syrian territory in recent months.
President Bashar al-Assad collapsed at the end of 2024 after 14 years of civil war, internal divisions, international sanctions, and a severe economic crisis. The final collapse occurred when military factions in the North and South rebelled and former allies such as Russia and Iran decisively reduced their support. Most of all, Russia is involved in the war in Ukraine.
In this context, al-Sharaa has emerged as a symbol of agreement between Syria’s different factions. His rise had the tacit support of several Arab countries, which saw him as an alternative to Iranian influence.
The meeting lasted about two hours, after which Trump is scheduled to meet with Saudi Arabia’s successor, Mohammed bin Salman, an ally of al-Shara, within a week.
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