• President Trump hosted Syria's President Al-Sharaa in a historic first meeting at the White House.
• The U.S. temporarily suspended the Caesar Act sanctions on Syria for another 180 days.
• Discussions included Syria's role in the fight against ISIS and potential normalization with Israel.
• Al-Sharaa's leadership is seen as a significant shift in U.S.-Syria relations since the Assad regime's fall.
• Sharaa's visit marks the first by a Syrian head of state to the White House since Syria's independence in 1946.

President Donald Trump welcomed Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa to the White House in an unprecedented meeting, marking the first visit by a Syrian head of state since Syria's independence nearly 80 years ago. This meeting represents a pivotal shift in U.S.-Syria relations, especially following the U.S. lifting significant sanctions previously imposed during the Assad regime. Trump expressed confidence in Al-Sharaa, stating, “We’ll do everything we can to make Syria successful because that’s part of the Middle East,” according to India Times and Le Monde.

The discussions primarily focused on Syria’s inclusion in the U.S.-led coalition against the Islamic State, alongside the removal of sanctions that have stifled the country’s economy. According to the U.S. Treasury Department, the Caesar Act sanctions are temporarily waived for another 180 days, which is intended to facilitate Syria’s recovery and development, reflecting a new era for diplomatic relations, per South China Morning Post and The Hill.

In addition to sanctions, the meeting touched on Syria's potential normalization of relations with Israel and a security pact aimed at stabilizing the region. Trump characterized Al-Sharaa’s background as “rough,” emphasizing the strength gained from such experiences in his path toward leadership. He remarked, “He’s a very strong leader... If you didn’t have a rough past, you wouldn’t have a chance,” as reported by Anadolu Agency and Los Angeles Times.

President Al-Sharaa's visit is seen as part of a broader strategy to stabilize the Middle East following years of conflict and terrorism associated with the Assad regime, while the U.S. has expressed a readiness to work with Sharaa’s leadership. Both sides hope to foster a new path for rebuilding Syria, which has faced immense challenges post-civil war, including recent threats against Sharaa’s life, indicating ongoing unrest within the nation, as mentioned by various sources including India Times and Anadolu Agency.