US, Syria move toward resetting ties as Trump meets al-Sharaa to discuss sanctions, security

WASHINGTON - US President Donald Trump on Monday met with Syrian interim leader Ahmad al-Sharaa at the White House, widely seen as a crucial step towards normalizing US-Syria relations.

It's the first visit by a Syrian leader to the White House since Syria's independence in 1946. Unlike standard state visits, Trump did not greet al-Sharaa at the White House's main entrance; instead, the Syrian leader entered through a side gate in a low-profile arrival.

Their closed-door meeting, held in the Oval Office without reporters present, focused on lifting US sanctions on Syria and Syria's entry into the US-led global coalition fighting the Islamic State (IS) group.

Marco Rubio, US Secretary of State, later announced that he issued a suspension of mandatory Caesar Act sanctions, passed by the US Congress in 2019 amid Syria's civil war, which imposed sweeping sanctions on Damascus.

"The suspension of Caesar Act sanctions supports Syria's efforts to rebuild its economy, restore ties with foreign partners, and foster prosperity and peace for all its citizens," Rubio said in a statement.

The Syrian side seeks the permanent repeal of US sanctions, which would require the US Congress to act. Trump waived the Caesar Act sanctions on Syria for 180 days when he first met with al-Sharaa in May.

During the talks, the Syrian leader agreed to join the US-led global coalition fighting IS, which remains active in Syria, the New York Times reported, citing a Trump administration official who spoke on the condition of anonymity.

The United States will also allow Syria to resume work at its embassy in Washington that is focused on counterterrorism, security and economic cooperation, said the report.

Syria has launched a large-scale security operation across several provinces to track down IS cells, said Syria's interior authorities on Saturday, when al-Sharaa arrived in Washington.

"President Trump made clear the United States expects to see concrete actions by the Syrian government to turn the page on the past and work towards peace in the region," Rubio said in his statement.

Washington is reportedly mediating talks on a potential Syria-Israel security accord.

Ahead of al-Sharaa's arrival, the UN Security Council voted Thursday to remove al-Sharaa and Syrian interim interior minister Anas Khattab from the IS and al-Qaeda sanctions list. The White House followed suit the next day.

Al-Sharaa once joined al-Qaeda and was wanted by the United States as a terrorist with a bounty of 10 million US dollars on his head. He broke his ties with the group years ago and led the rebel forces that toppled then Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in December 2024.

Analysts note that after more than a decade of devastating conflict, Syria's political transition still faces daunting challenges. Sectarian violence and attacks by IS remnants persist, while humanitarian and economic crises remain severe. The World Bank estimated in a recent report that Syria's reconstruction needs more than 200 billion US dollars.