Syria will join the international coalition to combat the Islamic State group, marking a shift in US foreign policy in the Middle East, a senior Trump administration official confirmed to CBS, the BBC's US media partner. The announcement came as President Donald Trump met Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa at the White House - the first such visit from a Syrian leader in the country's history.
Diplomatic relations between Syria and the US have been suspended since 2012, although Trump has moved to restore them after the fall of the regime of Bashar al-Assad. Trump has expressed his support for al-Sharaa, who until recently was designated a terrorist by the US government.
Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office several hours after the meeting, Trump said that 'we want to see Syria become a country that's very successful.' He added that he believes al-Sharaa can achieve this. Trump hinted at more 'announcements' to come, although he provided no specifics. This represents the third meeting between the two leaders, following previous gatherings at significant events.
Al-Sharaa's visit to the White House caps a remarkable re-branding for the former jihadist, who was once the leader of a branch of Al-Qaeda and had been on the US's global terrorist list until recently. Now, as interim Syrian president, he seeks to rehabilitate Syria's image after years of conflict.
While al-Sharaa has worked towards improving the nation's image, his leadership has faced challenges, including violence among minority groups. However, Trump's previously enacted measures, like lifting sanctions, aim to support Syria's path towards stability and improved relations with Israel.
Diplomatic relations between Syria and the US have been suspended since 2012, although Trump has moved to restore them after the fall of the regime of Bashar al-Assad. Trump has expressed his support for al-Sharaa, who until recently was designated a terrorist by the US government.
Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office several hours after the meeting, Trump said that 'we want to see Syria become a country that's very successful.' He added that he believes al-Sharaa can achieve this. Trump hinted at more 'announcements' to come, although he provided no specifics. This represents the third meeting between the two leaders, following previous gatherings at significant events.
Al-Sharaa's visit to the White House caps a remarkable re-branding for the former jihadist, who was once the leader of a branch of Al-Qaeda and had been on the US's global terrorist list until recently. Now, as interim Syrian president, he seeks to rehabilitate Syria's image after years of conflict.
While al-Sharaa has worked towards improving the nation's image, his leadership has faced challenges, including violence among minority groups. However, Trump's previously enacted measures, like lifting sanctions, aim to support Syria's path towards stability and improved relations with Israel.
