Syrian President Ahmed Sharaa arrived in Washington on Sunday for an official visit, two days after the United States lifted his designation as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist. Sharaa is scheduled to meet U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House on Monday, eleven months after his rebel alliance toppled former leader Bashar al-Assad. Syrian security forces said they detained 71 suspected Islamic State members ahead of Sharaa’s visit, seizing weapons and explosives. Cooperation against remaining Islamic State elements is expected to be a main topic in his talks with Trump. Since

Syrian President Ahmed Sharaa arrived in Washington on Sunday for an official visit, two days after the United States lifted his designation as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist. Sharaa is scheduled to meet U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House on Monday, eleven months after his rebel alliance toppled former leader Bashar al-Assad. Syrian security forces said they detained 71 suspected Islamic State members ahead of Sharaa’s visit, seizing weapons and explosives. Cooperation against remaining Islamic State elements is expected to be a main topic in his talks with Trump. Since taking power, Sharaa has sought to restore Syria’s international standing after years of isolation under Assad and more than a decade of civil war. In September, he addressed the UN General Assembly, calling for the lifting of sanctions and declaring Syria’s return to the world stage. Earlier this week, the UN Security Council backed a U.S.-sponsored resolution to ease measures against Syria, coinciding with Washington’s gradual removal of restrictions on the new government. On Friday, the U.S. Treasury Department removed Sharaa and Interior Minister Anas Hasan Khattab from its list of individuals accused of supporting extremist groups, citing “progress demonstrated by the Syrian leadership.” Sharaa was previously known as Muhammad al-Jawlani, the former leader of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which was linked to al-Qaeda until he cut ties in 2016. Before that, he fought in Iraq with al-Qaeda and was once held by U.S. forces. The United States lifted sanctions on HTS earlier this year. Trump last met Sharaa in May during a visit to Riyadh, describing him as “a tough guy with a strong past.” Despite his history, Sharaa has gained support from governments that opposed Assad, pledging to lead a moderate administration that can unify Syria’s divided communities. Violence has persisted in parts of the country, with recent clashes between Sunni Bedouin tribal fighters and Druze militias raising concerns over the new government’s ability to maintain stability.

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