"Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa met US President Donald Trump at the White House on Monday, capping an extraordinary period for the 42-year-old rebel-turned-ruler. Little under a year ago, al-Sharaa led Islamist fighters from Syria's northwest in a lightning offensive that toppled Bashar Assad after 14 years of civil war. What was on the agenda for Trump and Sharaa? This week's talks, the first ever between a Syrian president and a US leader in Washington, were said to be centered on regional security."
"The US is brokering a possible security pact between Syria and Israel and considering a small military presence at a Damascus airbase, according to diplomatic sources. Trump, who recently lifted most US sanctions on Syria, said before the meeting that "a lot of progress has been made with Syria" and praised al-Sharaa as "a tough guy in a tough neighborhood." But the toughest sanctions on Syria under the Caesar Act still require congressional repeal to become permanent a move al-Sharaa is expected to press for to attract reconstruction funds."
"Al-Sharaa's government has been consolidating control while facing renewed sectarian unrest that has killed more than 2,500 people since Assad's fall. Two Islamic State plots to assassinate him were reportedly foiled in recent months, prompting a nationwide crackdown on the group. However, skeptics of the Syrian leader have pointed to the wave of sectarian violence in which pro-government Sunni gunmen killed hundreds of civilians from the Alawite and Druze minorities."
Ahmed al-Sharaa met Donald Trump in Washington in the first-ever meeting between a Syrian president and a US leader, focusing on regional security and bilateral arrangements. The United States is mediating a possible security pact between Syria and Israel and is considering a limited military presence at a Damascus airbase. Trump lifted most US sanctions on Syria and praised al-Sharaa, while the Caesar Act sanctions still require congressional repeal for permanence and reconstruction funding. Al-Sharaa's government has consolidated control but faces renewed sectarian unrest that has killed over 2,500 people. Two foiled ISIS assassination plots prompted a nationwide crackdown amid accusations of mass sectarian killings.
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