In a historic diplomatic maneuver, President Donald Trump hosted Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa at the White House, signaling a possible thaw in the bilateral relations that have been icy since the start of the Syrian civil war. The United States, as announced on Monday, has extended the partial suspension of its stringent sanctions on Syria for an additional 180 days.

Sharaa, the rebel leader-turned-president, seeks to end Syria's longstanding international isolation after overthrowing the regime of Bashar al-Assad last year. Despite the momentous nature of this visit, Sharaa's arrival was understated, missing the usual pomp and ceremony associated with high-level international delegations, reflecting perhaps the sensitive nature of the discussions.

Security and the fight against Isla

See Full Page