Syrian President Ahmed Sharaa has arrived in Washington for an official visit, just two days after the US formally revoked his status as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist.
The former Islamist militant will meet US President Donald Trump at the White House on Monday, 11 months after his rebel alliance ousted Bashar al-Assad.
Hours before his arrival in the US capital, it was announced that Syrian security services had detained dozens of suspected members of the so-called Islamic State group. Joint efforts to tackle what remains of the group in Syria are expected to be high on the agenda during Sharaa's talks with Trump.
Syrian authorities reported the arrest of 71 suspected members of ISIS, alongside the seizure of weapons and explosives. With Sharaa in power, there is an impetus to restore Syria's presence on the global stage after decades of isolation under the Assad regime and 13 years of civil war.
In September, Sharaa addressed the UN General Assembly, asserting that Syria was reclaiming its rightful place among the nations of the world and appealed for the lifting of sanctions.
Recently, the UN Security Council supported a US resolution to lift sanctions, aligning with Washington's gradual easing of restrictions on Syria and its leadership. On Friday, Sharaa and his interior minister were removed from a US register of individuals suspected of supporting extremist groups, reflecting a perceived progress by the new Syrian leadership.
Sharaa, previously known under the alias Muhammad al-Jawlani during his time with Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, had a complicated history that included fighting for al-Qaeda and being imprisoned by US forces. Despite this background, Sharaa has received support from governments opposed to the Assad regime by promising a moderate government that could unite Syria's diverse ethnic groups.
However, internal conflicts, such as recent violence between Sunni Bedouin groups and Druze militias, pose challenges to the stability he aims to achieve in a country ravaged by over a decade of warfare.
The former Islamist militant will meet US President Donald Trump at the White House on Monday, 11 months after his rebel alliance ousted Bashar al-Assad.
Hours before his arrival in the US capital, it was announced that Syrian security services had detained dozens of suspected members of the so-called Islamic State group. Joint efforts to tackle what remains of the group in Syria are expected to be high on the agenda during Sharaa's talks with Trump.
Syrian authorities reported the arrest of 71 suspected members of ISIS, alongside the seizure of weapons and explosives. With Sharaa in power, there is an impetus to restore Syria's presence on the global stage after decades of isolation under the Assad regime and 13 years of civil war.
In September, Sharaa addressed the UN General Assembly, asserting that Syria was reclaiming its rightful place among the nations of the world and appealed for the lifting of sanctions.
Recently, the UN Security Council supported a US resolution to lift sanctions, aligning with Washington's gradual easing of restrictions on Syria and its leadership. On Friday, Sharaa and his interior minister were removed from a US register of individuals suspected of supporting extremist groups, reflecting a perceived progress by the new Syrian leadership.
Sharaa, previously known under the alias Muhammad al-Jawlani during his time with Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, had a complicated history that included fighting for al-Qaeda and being imprisoned by US forces. Despite this background, Sharaa has received support from governments opposed to the Assad regime by promising a moderate government that could unite Syria's diverse ethnic groups.
However, internal conflicts, such as recent violence between Sunni Bedouin groups and Druze militias, pose challenges to the stability he aims to achieve in a country ravaged by over a decade of warfare.
