President Trump welcomed Syria\u2019s transitional President Ahmed al-Sharaa for a historic visit to the White House on Monday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The visit, a powerful symbol of the country\u2019s return to the international community<\/strong> from its pariah status under the Assad regime, make Al-Sharaa the first Syrian leader to ever meet with the president at the White House. The trip is meant to further demonstrate al-Sharaa\u2019s transformation from a jihadist fighting Americans in Iraq to a global statesman. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The visit comes nearly one year since al-Sharaa led a lightning offensive<\/strong> at the head of the formerly designated terrorist group Hay\u2019at Tahrir al-Sham into Damascus, sending the country\u2019s dictator for more than two decades, Bashar Assad,<\/u><\/a> fleeing to Russia. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Since that time, the U.S. \u2014 under the Biden\u2002<\/u><\/a>and Trump administrations \u2014 has taken steps to embrace al-Sharaa, viewing him as the best chance to rehabilitate Syria<\/strong> after more than 11 years of civil war, more than half a century of violent oppression, and ongoing challenges with sectarian violence. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Syria\u2019s more-than-four-decade inclusion<\/strong> on the list of State Sponsors of Terrorism is likely to end in December, as the Trump administration works to lift all sanctions on the country. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThis regime has done a very good job, in spite of the speed bumps<\/strong>,\u201d said Trump\u2019s special envoy for Syria, Tom Barrack,<\/u><\/a> speaking during the International Institute for Strategic Studies Manama Dialogue last week. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Not everyone in Washington is sold on al-Sharaa\u2019s transformation. House Foreign Affairs Committee Chair Brian Mast\u2002<\/u><\/a>(R-Fla.) is expressing concerns<\/strong> about Trump\u2019s desire, and congressional efforts, to fully repeal the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act \u2014 sweeping sanctions imposed over human rights abuses under Assad. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDiscussions on Caesar Repeal are ongoing but my concerns should be obvious to anyone following the situation in Syria<\/strong>,\u201d Mast said in a statement to The Hill on Thursday, without elaborating. <\/p>\n\n\n\n After talks with al-Sharaa behind closed doors, Trump praised him as a \u201cstrong leader\u201d said the U.S. will \u201cdo everything we can to make Syria successful.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n