Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa, who once carried a $10 million bounty, shook hands with Donald Trump in Riyadh

Ahmad al-Sharaa, who was once known as Abu Mohammed al-Golani, met the US President on the sidelines of a summit between Trump and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) leaders.

Ahmad al-Sharaa gained worldwide attention as the leader of the  Syrian rebel group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) only six months ago when he led the swift campaign in the war-ravaged nation, which toppled the former president Bashar al-Assad-led regime.

With the fall of Assad, Al-Sharaa declared himself the new leader of a Middle East nation that has been troubled by wars for years.

Global Terrorist Past

Al Sharaa was placed on the US Specially Designated Global Terrorist list in 2013 for heading al Qaeda’s affiliate in Syria, known as Al Nusra Front, and allegedly orchestrating suicide bombings across Syria, reported CNN.

The Saudi-born Syrian President had spent years fighting against US forces in Iraq.

First meeting in 25 Years

It is the first time a US President has met a Syrian leader in 25 years.

According to a CNN report, the Syrian foreign ministry said Trump committed to “standing by Syria at this critical juncture.”

In a major diplomatic move, Trump recently announced the removal of decades-old sanctions on Syria.

Since December 1979, Syria has been designated by the US as a State Sponsor of Terrorism.

According to media reports, Turkey, a longtime ally of HTS, brokered al-Sharaa’s visit to Saudi Arabia and even the country's president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, attended the meeting with Trump over the phone.

Speaking of the meeting, Trump's spokesperson, Karoline Leavitt, wrote on X: "Today, President Trump, at the invitation of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, met with Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa. President Erdogan of Turkey joined by phone. President Erdogan praised President Trump for lifting sanctions on Syria and committed to working alongside Saudi Arabia to encourage peace and prosperity in Syria."

"The Crown Prince also commended President Trump for his decision to lift the sanctions, calling it courageous. President Trump thanked President Erdogan and the Crown Prince for their friendship, and told President Al-Sharaa that he has a tremendous opportunity to do something historic in his country," she said.

She said Trump asked his Syrian counterpart to 'great job' for the Syrian people.

Trump asked him to perform certain actions like helping the US prevent a resurgence of ISIS.

"President Al-Sharaa thanked President Trump, the Crown Prince, and President Erdogan for their efforts to put together the meeting, and recognized the significant opportunity presented by the Iranians leaving Syria, as well as shared U.S.-Syrian interests in countering terrorism and eliminating chemical weapons. President Al-Sharaa affirmed his commitment to the 1974 disengagement with Israel," Karoline Leavitt said about the meeting.

Trump Calls Syrian Leader A 'Tough Guy'

After the meeting, Trump said Al-Sharaa is a 'young, attractive guy. Tough guy. Strong past. Very strong past. Fighter.'

Israel's Objection

An Israeli official told CNN that when Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met Trump in Washington in April, he asked the president not to remove sanctions on Syria, saying he feared it would lead to a repeat of the events of October 7, 2023, when Hamas-led militants attacked Israel.