US Removes Syria's President Al-Sharaa From Terrorism Blacklist Before Historic Washington Meeting

Sharaa will meet with President Trump at the White House on Monday as part of the United States' commitment to support the new Syrian leadership. (File)

United States:

The United States officially removed Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa from its terrorism blacklist on Friday, just days before his scheduled historic visit to Washington.

This anticipated decision by the State Department reflects Sharaa's ongoing cooperation with the United States and follows Washington's leadership in a Security Council vote to lift UN sanctions against him.

State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott stated, "These actions acknowledge the progress demonstrated by Syria's new leadership following Bashar al-Assad's departure and the end of over five decades of repression under the Assad regime."

Pigott confirmed that Sharaa's government is fulfilling US requirements, including efforts to locate missing Americans and eliminate any remaining chemical weapons stockpiles.

Sharaa, who previously had connections to Al-Qaeda, had been designated as a "Specially Designated Global Terrorist" by the United States, which had once offered a bounty for him.

Nearly a year ago, Sharaa's forces, with support from Turkey and Gulf Arab nations, rapidly seized power in an impressive military offensive.

On Monday, Sharaa will be received at the White House, where President Donald Trump has pledged assistance to the new Syrian government. Despite these diplomatic developments, US ally Israel initially opposed engagement with Syria and has conducted extensive bombing operations in the country since Assad's fall, aiming to weaken its historical adversary.