In a scene once unimaginable in global diplomacy, US President Donald Trump met Syria’s interim president Ahmad al-Sharaa on Wednesday in Riyadh — the first direct engagement between the leaders of the two nations in a quarter-century, the Associated Press reported.
The meeting, held on the sidelines of Trump’s summit with Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) leaders, marks a dramatic shift not just in Syria’s foreign relations, but in the personal journey of its new leader.
This was no ordinary handshake between heads of state. The man shaking Trump’s hand — and receiving promises of sanctions relief — was once better known to US intelligence under a different name: Abu Mohammed al-Golani, a figure linked to al-Qaida and the Iraqi insurgency during the 2000s. He once had a $10 million US bounty on his head, according to CNN.
According to the Associated Press, al-Sharaa’s transformation from insurgent leader to internationally recognized head of state has sparked celebration in Syria and a flurry of recalibration in regional power circles. For the US, it signals a controversial pivot — one that pits Trump’s vision of Middle East stability against the deep unease of traditional allies like Israel.
In January, al-Sharaa’s HTS launched a shock offensive that toppled Bashar al-Assad’s five-decade rule. His installment as interim president was quickly recognized by Gulf powers, who see in him a Sunni counterweight to Iran’s Shia influence in Syria. Turkey, a longtime supporter of his movement, facilitated his Riyadh visit, and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan even joined the Trump-al-Sharaa meeting via phone.
That meeting — lasting just over 30 minutes — was historic. Not since 2000, when Hafez al-Assad met President Bill Clinton, has a Syrian leader conferred directly with an American president.
“I am ordering the cessation of sanctions against Syria to give them a fresh start,” Trump said after the engagement. “It gives them a chance for greatness. The sanctions were really crippling, very powerful.”
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt later confirmed that Trump had urged al-Sharaa to expel foreign militants from Syria, take control of IS detention centres from Kurdish-led forces, and recognise Israel diplomatically — a move that could test the limits of al-Sharaa’s Islamist base.
Trump praised Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s role in swaying his decision. “We commend the decision made yesterday by President Trump to lift the sanctions on the brotherly Syrian Arab Republic,” the Crown Prince declared, calling it a moment of “alleviating the suffering” of Syrians.
But while the Gulf and Turkey rally behind Syria’s new leadership, Israel remains unconvinced. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly warned Trump against lifting sanctions, citing al-Sharaa’s extremist past and the potential for Syria to become a staging ground for future attacks — not unlike the October 7, 2023 Hamas assault from Gaza.
Israel’s fears are not entirely unfounded. Despite al-Sharaa’s shift into formal politics, HTS — though rebranded — is still viewed warily by many Western security agencies. And his sudden embrace by Trump raises questions about the durability of US strategy in Syria, especially if the proposed handover of Islamic State detainees and oil-rich border zones to the Syrian government unfolds as planned.
The US had previously backed the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) to fight IS. But now, Trump’s signals suggest Washington may be preparing for a full military withdrawal, leaving al-Sharaa to fill the vacuum.
The stakes are high. Al-Sharaa’s transformation from jihadist to statesman may reflect Syria’s desperation for stability — or, critics warn, a repackaging of past dangers under a new political veneer.
Either way, Wednesday’s meeting could reshape the region. And for Syria, long buried under war and sanctions, the handshake with Trump may mark the beginning of a new — and uncertain — chapter.
(With inputs from ToI, AP)
The meeting, held on the sidelines of Trump’s summit with Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) leaders, marks a dramatic shift not just in Syria’s foreign relations, but in the personal journey of its new leader.
This was no ordinary handshake between heads of state. The man shaking Trump’s hand — and receiving promises of sanctions relief — was once better known to US intelligence under a different name: Abu Mohammed al-Golani, a figure linked to al-Qaida and the Iraqi insurgency during the 2000s. He once had a $10 million US bounty on his head, according to CNN.
According to the Associated Press, al-Sharaa’s transformation from insurgent leader to internationally recognized head of state has sparked celebration in Syria and a flurry of recalibration in regional power circles. For the US, it signals a controversial pivot — one that pits Trump’s vision of Middle East stability against the deep unease of traditional allies like Israel.
A controversial history meets global spotlight
Al-Sharaa's journey to the global stage began far from the corridors of power. During the height of the Iraq War, he fought under an alias alongside jihadist forces targeting US troops. Captured and detained for years by American forces, he later re-emerged as a leading figure in the Syrian rebel movement under the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) banner.In January, al-Sharaa’s HTS launched a shock offensive that toppled Bashar al-Assad’s five-decade rule. His installment as interim president was quickly recognized by Gulf powers, who see in him a Sunni counterweight to Iran’s Shia influence in Syria. Turkey, a longtime supporter of his movement, facilitated his Riyadh visit, and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan even joined the Trump-al-Sharaa meeting via phone.
That meeting — lasting just over 30 minutes — was historic. Not since 2000, when Hafez al-Assad met President Bill Clinton, has a Syrian leader conferred directly with an American president.
“I am ordering the cessation of sanctions against Syria to give them a fresh start,” Trump said after the engagement. “It gives them a chance for greatness. The sanctions were really crippling, very powerful.”
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt later confirmed that Trump had urged al-Sharaa to expel foreign militants from Syria, take control of IS detention centres from Kurdish-led forces, and recognise Israel diplomatically — a move that could test the limits of al-Sharaa’s Islamist base.
Trump praised Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s role in swaying his decision. “We commend the decision made yesterday by President Trump to lift the sanctions on the brotherly Syrian Arab Republic,” the Crown Prince declared, calling it a moment of “alleviating the suffering” of Syrians.
A new Syria — or a new risk?
Back home, the reaction to Trump’s announcement was swift. Damascus’ Umayyad Square erupted with fireworks, car horns and flag-waving as citizens celebrated what they hope will be Syria’s re-entry into the global economic fold. The state-run SANA news agency broadcast scenes of jubilation, while the Foreign Ministry hailed the move as a “pivotal turning point” toward national reconstruction.But while the Gulf and Turkey rally behind Syria’s new leadership, Israel remains unconvinced. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly warned Trump against lifting sanctions, citing al-Sharaa’s extremist past and the potential for Syria to become a staging ground for future attacks — not unlike the October 7, 2023 Hamas assault from Gaza.
Israel’s fears are not entirely unfounded. Despite al-Sharaa’s shift into formal politics, HTS — though rebranded — is still viewed warily by many Western security agencies. And his sudden embrace by Trump raises questions about the durability of US strategy in Syria, especially if the proposed handover of Islamic State detainees and oil-rich border zones to the Syrian government unfolds as planned.
The US had previously backed the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) to fight IS. But now, Trump’s signals suggest Washington may be preparing for a full military withdrawal, leaving al-Sharaa to fill the vacuum.
The stakes are high. Al-Sharaa’s transformation from jihadist to statesman may reflect Syria’s desperation for stability — or, critics warn, a repackaging of past dangers under a new political veneer.
Either way, Wednesday’s meeting could reshape the region. And for Syria, long buried under war and sanctions, the handshake with Trump may mark the beginning of a new — and uncertain — chapter.
(With inputs from ToI, AP)
