Ahmad al-Sharaa, leader of the Islamist organization Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), took control of Damascus in 2024.
Following a White House meeting on Monday, US President Donald Trump commended Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa, referring to him as a strong leader.
Al-Sharaa, a onetime jihadist leader with Al-Qaeda connections previously sanctioned by the US, overthrew Syria’s enduring leader Bashar Assad in December 2024. He has since committed to reconstructing the conflict-ridden nation and safeguarding its diverse ethnic and religious groups.
In the Oval Office, Trump remarked to reporters, “He is a very strong leader. He comes from a very tough place, and he’s a tough guy. I liked him. I get along with him,” He further stated, “We want to see Syria become a country that’s very successful, and we think this leader can do it.”
Notwithstanding al-Sharaa’s commitments to establish an inclusive society, his administration has been marked by instances of sectarian violence targeting Druze and Christian populations, which has drawn censure from the US.
Days before the meeting, the United States, United Kingdom, and United Nations had all delisted al-Sharaa from their terrorist designations. This Monday, Washington prolonged the pause on sanctions for an additional 180 days, as Syria aims to normalize relations and enhance security collaboration.
US media sources indicated that Syria was expected to formally join the American-led coalition against Islamic State (IS, previously ISIS). The Syrian Foreign Ministry announced on Monday that diplomatic representatives from the US, Syria, and Turkey had reached an accord to incorporate the US-supported, Kurdish-commanded Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) into the Syrian armed forces. The SDF has held sway over significant portions of northern and eastern Syria since the mid-2010s.
Last month, al-Sharaa held discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow. Following this meeting, Bloomberg reported that Russia had recommenced flights to the Khmeimim Air Base in western Syria, which had been halted in 2024.