Syria’s Jihadist-Turned-President Caps Historic Transformation with White House Visit
Less than a year after a lightning rise to power, Syria’s President Ahmad al-Sharaa visits the White House, marking a dramatic shift from his past as a jihadist fighter to international statesman. The visit, the first by a Syrian head of state, comes as al-Sharaa aims to reshape Syria’s foreign relations and end diplomatic isolation imposed during the Assad regime. Al-Sharaa, formerly an Islamist insurgent who battled US forces in Iraq, later toppled the decades-long regime of Bashar al-Assad through a surprise offensive. He now advocates for lifting US sanctions and seeks American support to push Israel to halt attacks and withdraw from southern Syria. Despite some sanctions lifted after a Saudi-brokered Trump-Al-Sharaa meeting in May, the toughest US measures require congressional sign-off. The young leader is balancing ties between Moscow and Western states, conscious of Russia’s military influence and […]