Trump meets Syria’s new chief in Saudi Arabia

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AP) — U.S. President Donald Trump met with interim Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday, the primary encounter between the 2 nations’ leaders in 25 years and one that would function a turning level for Syria because it struggles to emerge from a long time of worldwide isolation.

The assembly, on the sidelines of Trump’s get-together with the leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council, marks a significant flip of occasions for a Syria nonetheless adjusting to life after the over 50-year, iron-gripped rule of the Assad household, and for its new chief, who as soon as had a $10 million U.S. bounty for his arrest.

Trump praised al-Sharaa to reporters after the assembly, saying he was a “younger, engaging man. Powerful man. Robust previous. Very sturdy previous. Fighter.”

Below the nom de guerre Abu Mohammed al-Golani, al-Sharaa had ties to al-Qaida and joined insurgents battling U.S. forces in Iraq earlier than getting into the Syrian conflict. He was even imprisoned by U.S. troops there for a number of years.

“He’s obtained an actual shot at holding it collectively,” Trump stated. “He’s an actual chief. He led a cost, and he’s fairly superb.”

Trump had introduced the day earlier than as he kicked off his three-nation Center East tour in Riyadh that he would additionally transfer to carry U.S. sanctions imposed on Syria below the deposed autocrat Bashar Assad.

Folks throughout Syria cheered within the streets and set off fireworks on Tuesday night time to have a good time, hopeful their nation — locked out of bank cards and world finance — would possibly rejoin the world’s economic system after they want investments essentially the most.

The assembly got here even after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had earlier requested Trump to not carry sanctions on Syria, once more underscoring a rising discontent between the White Home and the Israeli authorities as its conflict on Hamas within the Gaza Strip rages on.

Trump informed the Gulf Cooperation Council after his assembly with al-Sharaa that he was ending sanctions on Syria as a way to give the nation “a contemporary begin.”

“It provides them an opportunity for greatness. The sanctions have been actually crippling, very highly effective,” Trump stated.

Trump stated al-Sharaa had agreed to hitch the Abraham Accords and ultimately acknowledge Israel, however Syria hasn’t confirmed that. Trump informed reporters, “I believe they must get themselves straightened up. I informed him, ‘I hope you’re going to hitch when it’s straightened out.’ He stated, ‘Sure.’ However they’ve a variety of work to do.”

A historic closed-door assembly

Trump stated on Tuesday that he would meet al-Sharaa, who flew in to the Saudi capital for the face-to-face.

Even earlier than its ruinous civil conflict that started in 2011, Syria struggled below a tightly managed socialist economic system and below sanctions by the U.S. as a state sponsor of terror since 1979.

Al-Sharaa is the primary Syrian chief to fulfill an American president since Hafez Assad met Invoice Clinton in Geneva in 2000. The Trump-al-Sharaa assembly befell behind closed doorways, and the White Home later stated it ran for simply over half-hour.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan joined the assembly with Trump, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and al-Sharaa through cellphone. Turkey was a principal backer to al-Sharaa and his insurgent faction.

“I felt very strongly that this might give them an opportunity,” Trump stated of Syria. “It’s not going to be simple anyway, so provides them an excellent sturdy likelihood. And it was my honor to take action.”

What occurred within the assembly?

White Home press secretary Karoline Leavitt stated in a press release that Trump urged al-Sharaa to diplomatically acknowledge Israel, “inform all international terrorists to go away Syria” and assist the U.S. cease any resurgence of the Islamic State group.

Trump, a Republican, additionally requested for the Syrian authorities to “assume duty” for over a dozen detention facilities holding some 9,000 suspected members of the Islamic State group, Leavitt added. The prisons are run by the U.S.-backed and Kurdish-led forces that spearheaded the navy marketing campaign in opposition to the extremists and managed the final sliver of land they as soon as held in March 2019.

As a part of a deal reached in March between the Syrian authorities and the Kurdish-led forces, all border crossings with Iraq and Turkey, airports and oil fields within the Northeast could be introduced below the central authorities’s management by the tip of the yr.

Trump’s need for Syria to take over the prisons additionally alerts the potential of a full American navy withdrawal from Syria.

Syria’s International Ministry stated Trump and al-Sharaa mentioned the Syrian-U.S. partnership in preventing terror and armed teams similar to IS standing in the way in which of stability.

Al-Sharaa’s militant previous sparks Israeli concern

Al-Sharaa was named interim president of Syria in January, a month after a surprising offensive by rebel teams led by al-Sharaa’s Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, or HTS, that stormed Damascus, ending the 54-year rule of the Assad household.

Many Gulf Arab leaders have rallied behind the brand new authorities in Damascus and wish Trump to comply with, believing it’s a bulwark in opposition to Iran’s return to affect in Syria, the place it had helped prop up Assad’s authorities throughout a decadelong civil conflict.

However longtime U.S. ally Israel has been deeply skeptical of al-Sharaa’s extremist previous and cautioned in opposition to swift recognition of the brand new authorities. The request got here throughout Netanyahu’s go to to Washington final month, based on an Israeli official who spoke on the situation of anonymity to debate the topic.

Israel was involved a cross-border assault much like Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, assault might come from Syria. Israel additionally fears al-Sharaa and his Islamist previous might pose a risk on its northern border.

Trump’s transfer attracts cheers from Syrians

Syrians cheered the announcement by Trump that the U.S. will transfer to carry sanctions on the beleaguered Center Japanese nation.

The state-run SANA information company revealed video and pictures of Syrians cheering in Umayyad Sq., the most important within the nation’s capital, Damascus. Others honked their automobile horns or waved the brand new Syrian flag in celebration.

Folks whistled and cheered as fireworks lit the night time sky.

An announcement from Syria’s International Ministry known as the announcement “a pivotal turning level for the Syrian folks as we search to emerge from an extended and painful chapter of conflict.”

“The removing of those sanctions gives an important alternative for Syria to pursue stability, self-sufficiency and significant nationwide reconstruction, led by and for the Syrian folks,” the assertion added.

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Madhani reported from Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Related Press photographer Alex Brandon and writers Suzan Fraser in Ankara, Turkey; Tia Goldenberg in Tel Aviv, Israel, and Bassem Mroue in Beirut contributed to this report.