Overview
- Trump hosted interim President Ahmed al‑Sharaa for a private Oval Office meeting, the first visit by a Syrian head of state to the White House since 1946.
- During the visit, the Treasury Department issued a 180‑day suspension of key Caesar Act restrictions to ease trade and reconstruction, while any permanent repeal still requires Congress.
- U.S. authorities this month removed al‑Sharaa from terrorist designations and scrapped a $10 million reward after the U.N. Security Council lifted sanctions on him.
- U.S. officials say Syria is expected to formally join the U.S.-led coalition against the Islamic State and has been cleared to reopen its embassy in Washington.
- Washington also discussed integrating the Kurdish‑led FDS into Syria’s new army and a potential security framework with Israel, as the Pentagon denied reports of a planned U.S. base near Damascus.