Overview
- Syria becomes the first Syrian head‑of‑state visit to the White House since 1946, with the White House framing the talks as part of broader diplomacy for peace.
- U.S. officials say Syria is entering the U.S.-led coalition against ISIS, a move expected to enable closer coordination with American forces already targeting ISIS cells.
- The U.N. Security Council lifted sanctions on al‑Sharaa and senior officials last week, and Washington days later removed him from its terrorism blacklist.
- Trump has eased sanctions by executive action, but the Caesar Act remains in force pending congressional action, with competing repeal approaches floated by Sens. Jeanne Shaheen and Lindsey Graham.
- Diplomatic and media reports describe plans for a U.S. presence near a Damascus airbase and U.S.-brokered Syria‑Israel security talks, while al‑Sharaa seeks reconstruction financing as rights groups flag new sectarian violence and minority protections.