From Blacklist to White House: Syrian leader Ahmad al-Sharaa arrives in US to meet Donald Trump

"President al-Sharaa is scheduled to meet with President Donald Trump on Monday, November 10 , at the White House," reported Sana news agency.

Under his leadership, the rebel forces dethroned long-time ruler Bashar al-Assad late last year.

This is the second meeting between the Syrian leader and Trump. Earlier this year, they met in Riyadh during Trump's visit to Saudi Arabia.

UN Security Council lifts terror-related sanctions on Syrian President

The UN Security Council on Thursday adopted a resolution to remove Syria’s transitional President Ahmed al-Sharaa and Interior Minister Anas Khattab from sanctions measures, targeting members and supporters of terrorist groups ISIL and Al-Qaida.

Soon after the fall of Bashar al-Assad in early December 2024, the international community began to ease sanctions against the country, in an attempt to improve the humanitarian situation and revive the battered economy.

The United States, United Kingdom and European lifted punitive measures covering around $15 billion in restricted assets and trade measures in May.

Regional powers including Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and Qatar have supported renewed engagement, offering to fund public salaries and energy infrastructure, and support Syria’s obligations to international financial institutions.

Bringing Syria back into the fold

Measures to bring Syria back into the fold were complicated, however, by the fact the group at the head of the offensive that removed Assad from power – Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) – had been proscribed as a terrorist organisation by the United Nations since 2014.

The leader of HTS under his nom de guerre Mohammed Al-Jolani was among those sanctioned, subjected to an asset freeze and travel ban – but now he serves as civilian leader of the Syrian Government under his real name, Ahmed al-Sharaa.

Thursday’s decision by the Security Council followed unilateral moves from several Member States. In July, the US revoked the designation of HTS as a foreign terrorist group, followed by the UK in October.

The Syrian president met his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin the same month and is reportedly set to meet US President Donald Trump in Washington next week.

The US-sponsored resolution welcomes the interim government’s commitments to allow unhindered humanitarian access to the country, fight terrorism (including ISIL and Al-Qaida) and protect human rights. 14 Members of the Council voted in favour, and China abstained.