Overview
- Syria’s Ahmed al‑Sharaa became the first Syrian head of state to visit the White House since 1946, meeting President Trump behind closed doors after a discreet arrival.
- OFAC suspended parts of the Caesar Act for 180 days, while a permanent repeal awaits Congress, where competing plans from Sen. Jeanne Shaheen and Sen. Lindsey Graham are under debate.
- The U.N. Security Council lifted sanctions on al‑Sharaa, and the U.S. removed him from its terrorist designations following months of diplomatic shifts.
- U.S. officials said Syria announced it will join the U.S.‑led coalition against ISIS during the visit, with discussions also reviving plans to integrate the U.S.‑aligned SDF into a unified Syrian army and to allow Syria’s embassy to resume activities in Washington.
- Human‑rights advocates warn that recent sectarian killings and accountability gaps complicate normalization, while reports of a potential U.S. presence near Damascus remain unconfirmed following a Pentagon denial.