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President Donald Trump is making ready to welcome Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa on Monday in what officers describe as a historic step towards testing whether or not Damascus could be drawn again into diplomacy after years of battle and isolation.
The high-profile assembly underscores a brand new chapter in U.S.–Syria relations after greater than a decade of hostility. A senior administration official advised Fox News Digital the go to will concentrate on counterterrorism cooperation, financial improvement, and advancing regional peace and safety.Â
During the go to, the official stated, “Syria will announce that it’s becoming a member of the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS. Syria will thus develop into the ninetieth member of the D-ISIS Coalition, partnering with the United States to get rid of ISIS remnants and halt international fighter flows.”
The go to follows per week of main coverage shifts. On Thursday, the U.N. Security Council voted 14-0, with China abstaining, to take away sanctions on al-Sharaa and Syria’s inside minister. Additionally, Reuters reported that al-Sharaa and his inside minister, Anas Khattab, had previously been topic to monetary sanctions focused at al Qaeda and ISIS, with the United States designating them Specially Designated Global Terrorists.
In this picture launched by the Saudi Royal Palace, interim Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa shakes palms with President Donald Trump in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on May 14. At proper is Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. (AP)
The assembly comes about six weeks after al-Sharaa — the previous commander of Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham, as soon as affiliated with al Qaeda — addressed the U.N. General Assembly on Sept. 24, the primary by a Syrian head of state in six many years. There, he urged the West to carry sanctions and known as for worldwide assist to rebuild the nation.
According to the administration official, that’s about to occur: “Treasury, State, and Commerce will collectively announce measures taken to carry financial restrictions and supply compliance readability for traders. The United States will enable Syria to renew operations at its Embassy in Washington to additional counterterrorism, safety, and financial coordination.”
Syrian officers are looking for a reassessment of the Caesar Act sanctions, the principle U.S. legislation nonetheless proscribing industrial ties with Damascus.Â
The senior administration official advised Fox News Digital, “The Administration is issuing a 180-day suspension of the Caesar Act and is urging Congress to completely repeal the Act to unlock financial progress. The Trump Administration helps the complete repeal of the Caesar Act. This is consistent with the President’s announcement on cessation of sanctions. Removal is essential to permitting U.S. enterprise and regional states to function in Syria.”
Syrian safety forces stroll collectively alongside a avenue, after clashes between Syrian authorities troops and native Druze fighters resumed within the southern Druze metropolis of Sweida early on Wednesday, collapsing a ceasefire introduced simply hours earlier that aimed to place an finish to days of lethal sectarian bloodshed, in Sweida, Syria July 16, 2025. (Karam al-Masri/Reuters)
EVANGELICAL LEADER SAYS US MUST PROTECT SYRIAN CHRISTIANS FROM ATTACKS BY JIHADI TERRORISTS
Rep. Abe Hamadeh, R-Ariz., who visited Damascus this summer time, advised Fox News Digital he views the go to as a possibility to finish years of bloodshed.
“This is the primary probability Syria has to emerge from many years of brutal oppression and greater than a decade of civil battle,” the congressman stated. “I went to Damascus to verify lacking Americans like Kayla Mueller should not forgotten, to advocate for increasing the Abraham Accords, and to remind Syria’s new leaders that they have to embody minorities just like the Druze, Christians, and Kurds and defend their rights.”
On Friday, about 100 influential Christian leaders despatched a letter to President Trump calling on him to lift the difficulty of minority rights and safety with the Syrian chief. The letter was led by Dede Laugesen, president of Save the Persecuted Christians, and included Ralph Reed, Tony Perkins, Samuel Rodriguez, Rob McCoy and Alveda King.
Syrian residents and safety forces examine the harm inside Mar Elias church the place a suicide bomber detonated himself in Dweil’a on the outskirts of Damascus, Syria, Sunday, June 22, 2025. (Omar Sanadiki/AP Photo)
In it, they thanked Trump for his efforts in defending Christians and likewise requested him to convey up the difficulty with al-Sharaa. “We urge you to handle instantly the bloodbath of Christians, Kurds, Druze, and Alawites in Syria, notably within the better Suwayda space. These non secular minorities face ongoing violence, demise, displacement, hunger, and water and medical deprivation—all whereas harmless ladies and kids are held hostage by ISIS terrorists.”
“Mr. President, we respectfully request that you simply safe President al-Sharaa’s dedication to opening a safe humanitarian hall from Hader to Suwayda in southern Syria. This hall will allow secure and safe help supply and civilian evacuation, signaling the brand new authorities’s dedication to minority rights and stability,” the letter said.
SYRIA’S NEW PRESIDENT TAKES CENTER STAGE AT UNGA AS CONCERNS LINGER OVER TERRORIST PAST
President of Syria Ahmad Al-Sharaa speaks in the course of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on the United Nations headquarters on Sept. 24, 2025, in New York City. (Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)
Ahmad Sharawi of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies advised Fox News Digital that Washington hopes to make use of the assembly to pursue stability and comprise Iran’s affect.
“The U.S. curiosity is having a authorities that’s prepared to battle ISIS and cease Iran from re-emerging,” he stated. “I believe the U.S. will attempt to discover a answer to the Kurdish subject in northeast Syria and construct a unified nation with no decentralization or federalism.”
He cautioned that al-Sharaa’s home file reveals “a political system that isn’t inclusive” and a sample of energy centralization. Despite these issues, he added, many Syrians see him as “the one determine able to holding the nation collectively.”
People welcome the chief of Syria’s Islamist Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group that headed a lightning insurgent offensive snatching Damascus from authorities management, Ahmed al-Sharaa (C), earlier than his deal with on the capital’s landmark Umayyad Mosque on Dec. 8, 2024. Al-Sharaa gave a speech as the group chanted “Allahu akbar (God is biggest),” in a video shared by the rebels on their Telegram channel confirmed. (Aref Tammawi /AFP by way of Getty Images)
In October, al-Sharaa traveled to Russia to satisfy with President Vladimir Putin — a transfer Sharawi stated highlights each pragmatism and danger.
“One would assume that 11 months in the past, when the Russians had been air-striking Idlib and al-Sharaa’s forces, we wouldn’t see al-Sharaa assembly with Putin in Moscow,” Sharawi stated. “But it’s a transparent indicator of how al-Sharaa operates — centered on securing his pursuits but additionally being pragmatic.”
He added that the outreach indicators to the West that “when you don’t give me what I need, I’ve different nations I can lean on,” and stated it’s an effort to safe weapons and political backing after years of battle and lack of gear.
Ahmed al-Sharaa, as soon as recognized by his nom de guerre Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, is seen in Syria Feb. 7, 2023. Since changing into the nation’s president, he has gone again to his given title. (OMAR HAJ KADOUR/AFP by way of Getty Images)
“That’s why I requested CENTCOM’s Gen. Michael Kurilla throughout House Armed Services Committee hearings about these alternatives and dangers — and wrote the NDAA part on assessing the feasibility of protection partnerships with the brand new Syrian authorities,” Hamadeh stated. “We should be sure that ISIS and Iran by no means return and ensure the Russians and Chinese are stored at a distance.”
Syrian-American activist Hicham Alnchawati of the Syria Freedom Path group advised Fox News Digital that Syrians largely welcome the go to.
“They’re searching for a greater future,” he stated. “They suffered the battle — there’s no water, no meals, no economic system, and no safety. He is aware of his curiosity is with the U.S. He’s coming right here to attain mutual pursuits for each the U.S. and Syria.”
Alnchawati argued that lasting stability would require eliminating Iran’s and Hezbollah’s affect.
“If you actually need stability within the Middle East, you must end the job with Hezbollah and the Iranians,” he stated. “They should be completely dismantled. Otherwise, they’ll reignite the battle yet one more time.”
Secretary of State Marco Rubio shakes palms with Syrian interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa on the Lotte New York Palace Hotel, on the sidelines of the eightieth United Nations General Assembly on the United Nations headquarters, Monday, Sept. 22, 2025. (Bing Guan/Pool Photo by way of AP)
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The United Nations and U.S. sanctions selections have sparked debate in Washington and Europe. Reuters and the Associated Press reported that some lawmakers and rights teams argue that legitimizing a former jihadist commander might undercut accountability for previous abuses, whereas supporters say the aid affords Damascus an incentive to cooperate on counterterrorism and drug management.
Sharawi advised Fox News Digital the coverage to bid on al-Sharaa “provides Damascus a robust incentive however leaves Washington uncovered. The political price of failure could be huge.”
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