Washington: US President Donald Trump is hosting Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa at the White House on Monday in a historic visit, marking the first time a Syrian head of state has been welcomed in Washington since Syria gained independence in 1946. Al-Sharaa, who led the rebel forces that toppled Bashar al-Assad late last year and was named interim leader in January, was previously associated with al-Qaida but later cut ties and has since positioned himself as a statesman aiming to rebuild Syria and improve its international standing.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Monday's visit is “part of the president's efforts in diplomacy to meet with anyone around the world in the pursuit of peace.”

Trump has recently said al-Sharaa is “doing a very good job so far” and that a “lot of progress has been made with Syria” since the US eased sanctions.

The US lifted sanctions on Syria and removed al-Sharaa from the global terrorist list after a UN Security Council vote, and his visit aligns with efforts to integrate Syria into a US-led global coalition against the Islamic State group. Trump praised al-Sharaa's progress and expressed a desire to deepen cooperation, including joint counterterrorism efforts and regional stability talks. The visit also coincides with Syria launching a major security operation against ISIL cells.

A key agenda for al-Sharaa is securing permanent repeal of US sanctions, including the Caesar Act, which are currently waived by presidential order but require Congressional approval for full removal. Proposals vary between unconditional repeals and conditional frameworks involving security and minority protections, with concerns that stringent conditions might deter investment. Al-Sharaa is also expected to seek financial aid for Syria's extensive post-war reconstruction, estimated by the World Bank to require at least $216 billion.

This diplomatic overture represents a major shift in the US-Syria relationship, with the US banking on al-Sharaa to hold Syria together and curb Iranian and Russian influence in the region by fostering stability and cooperation.

With inputs from AP