US and Syria Normalize Relations with Historic Meeting

Syria will join the US-led coalition to combat the Islamic State group, marking a significant shift in US foreign policy in the Middle East. Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa met with President Donald Trump at the White House, the first such visit from a Syrian leader in the country's history. The meeting came after the US Treasury Department removed al-Sharaa from its 'specially designated global terrorist list'. Trump expressed support for al-Sharaa, who has worked to soften his public image since becoming interim Syrian president. The US will lift economic restrictions on Syria and allow it to re-open its embassy in Washington. The development is seen as part of a 'new era' in US-Syria cooperation.

Syrian President Ahmed Al-Sharaa met with President Trump at the White House, marking a significant shift in U.S. foreign policy after being removed from the U.S. terrorist list three days prior. Al-Sharaa, formerly an al-Qaeda affiliate leader, disavowed Islamic extremism and led a rebel militia to force Bashar al-Assad out of office. Syria is expected to join the U.S.-led Global Coalition To Defeat ISIS, and discussions on lifting U.S. economic sanctions against Syria are underway. Al-Sharaa is seeking to normalize relations and rebuild Syria, which has been crippled by decades of sanctions.

The U.S. military has carried out two strikes on alleged drug-running boats in the eastern Pacific, killing six 'narco-terrorists,' according to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. The strikes bring the total death toll to 76 in a series of attacks that have been ongoing since September under the Trump administration. Experts have raised concerns that the strikes amount to extrajudicial killings, and the U.N. rights chief has urged the U.S. to investigate the legality of the strikes. The U.S. has deployed six Navy ships in the Caribbean and sent F-35 stealth warplanes to Puerto Rico as part of a military buildup in the region. The strikes have been justified as part of an 'armed conflict' with Latin American drug cartels, which the Trump administration has described as terrorist groups.

Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa is set to visit the White House on Monday, marking a historic step towards normalizing US-Syria relations after years of hostility. The visit will focus on counterterrorism cooperation, economic development, and regional peace and security. The US will announce measures to lift economic restrictions and allow Syria to resume operations at its Embassy in Washington. Al-Sharaa's visit comes after the UN Security Council voted to remove sanctions on him and Syria's interior minister. The US is also issuing a 180-day suspension of the Caesar Act, a law restricting commercial ties with Damascus, and is urging Congress to permanently repeal it. The visit has been seen as an opportunity to end years of bloodshed and promote regional stability, with some lawmakers and Christian leaders calling for the protection of minority rights in Syria.

The Syrian president, Ahmed al Sharaa, formerly known as Abu Mohammed al Jolani, a jihadist battlefield commander, has met with Donald Trump in Washington, marking a significant shift in US-Syria relations. Al Sharaa is seen by the US as the best chance to hold Syria together and prevent it from falling back into civil war. The meeting is historic, being the first official visit by a Syrian head of state since 1946, and is expected to discuss lifting sanctions, fighting Islamic State, and normalizing relations with Israel. Despite concerns about al Sharaa's past and ability to unite the country, the US is willing to support him as a potential ally.

US President Donald Trump hosted Syrian President Ahmed al Sharaa at the White House in a historic Oval Office meeting. Al Sharaa, who led rebel forces that overthrew Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad, was described by Trump as a 'very strong leader.' The meeting marked the first visit to the Oval Office by a Syrian head of state since Syria gained independence in 1946. Trump expressed his enthusiasm for working with al Sharaa to help Syria succeed, despite criticism from some, including far-right activist Laura Loomer, who questioned the legitimacy of al Sharaa's leadership.