US President Donald Trump met with the interim Syrian President Ahmed Al -Sharra in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on Wednesday, the first meeting between the leaders of the two countries in 25 years and one could represent a turning point for Syria as it struggles to appear from decades of international isolation.
The meeting, on the sidelines of Trump’s meeting with the leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council, represents a great turning point for Syria, which still adapts to life after more than 50 years of the Assad family’s rule, and its new leader, who had once with $ 10 million to his strength.
Trump praised the badge to reporters after meeting the first air force, saying he was “young and attractive. A strong man. Strong past. A very strong past. Fighter.”
In this photo issued by the Saudi Royal Palace, President Donald Trump is walking with the interim president in Syria Ahmed Al -Shara Wednesday, May 14, 2025.
Bandar Aljaloud/Saudi Royal Palace via AP
During the reign of the name de Gori Abu Muhammad al -Jolani, Al -Shara had relations with al -Qaeda and joined the rebels fighting American forces in Iraq before entering the Syrian war, and even was imprisoned by the American forces there for several years.
“He got a real shot in her contract together,” Trump said. “He is a real leader. He has led a charge, and he is very amazing.”
Trump announced the previous day, starting his tour of the Middle East, consisting of three countries in his head that he will also move to lift the US sanctions imposed on Syria under the kindness of humans Assad.
People all over Syria chanted in the streets and started fireworks on Tuesday night to celebrate, and the hope that their nation – which was stopped from credit and global financing cards – may join the global economy when they need investments more than others.
The meeting came even after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu asked Trump not to lift the sanctions on Syria, which once again confirm the increasing discontent between the White House and the Israeli government with its war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
“It gives them a chance of greatness. The sanctions were very strong,” Trump told the Gulf Cooperation Council after his meeting with the Sharra.
Trump said that the Shara agreed to join the Ibrahim agreement and at the end recognized Israel, but Syria did not confirm this. “I think they should get themselves. I told him,” I hope you join when it is evaluated. “He said,” Yes. “But they have a lot of work to do it.
A historical meeting closed door
Trump said on Tuesday that he would meet Basra, who traveled to the Saudi capital.
Even before the devastating civil war that started in 2011, Syria has struggled under a socialist economy subject to control and under sanctions by the United States as a state sponsor of terrorism since 1979.
The Trump Shara meeting was held behind the closed doors. The White House later said it lasted for more than 30 minutes, which made the first Syrian leader to meet an American president since Haviz met Assad Bill Clinton in Geneva in 2000.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan joined the meeting between Trump, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and the emblem through a phone call. Türkiye was a major supporter of his rebel evil.
“I felt strongly that this would give them a chance,” Trump said of Syria. “It will not be easy anyway, so it gives them a good good chance. It was an honor for me to do so.”
What happened in the meeting?
White House journalist Caroline Levitte said in a statement that Trump urged Sharra to recognize Israel diplomatically, “he told all foreign terrorists to leave Syria” and help the United States to stop any return of the Islamic State.
Levitte added that Trump, a Republican, also asked the Syrian government to “take responsibility” for more than ten detention centers carrying about 9,000 members of the Islamic State. Prisons are managed by the US -backed Kurdish forces that led the military campaign against extremists and controlling the last shrapnel of the lands held in March 2019.
As part of a deal reached in March between the Syrian government and the Kurdish -led forces, all border crossings will be placed with Iraq, Turkey, airports and oil fields in the northeast under the control of the central government by the end of the year.
Trump’s desire in Syria also indicates prisons to the potential of the full American military withdrawal from Syria.
The Syrian Foreign Ministry said that Trump and Cara discussed the Syrian partnership and the United States in combating terrorism and armed groups, such as standing on the path of stability.
Shara, the last militant, Sparks
The Sharra was called a temporary head of Syria in January, a month after a stunning attack by the rebel groups led by Shaia Haya, who flew Sham, or HTS, which stormed Damascus, which ended the 54 -year -old Assad’s rule.
Many Arab leaders in the Gulf gathered behind the new government in Damascus and want Trump to follow him, believing that it is a return against Iran to influence Syria, as it helped support the Assad government during the Dikdelong civil war.
But the US ally for a long time, Israel was very skeptical in the extremist Sharra past and warned against the rapid recognition of the new government. The request came during Netanyahu’s visit to Washington last month, according to an Israeli official who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the issue.
Israel was concerned about a border attack similar to Hamas on October 7, 2023, the attack could come from Syria. Israel also fears that Sharra and its Islamic past can pose a threat to its northern border.
Trump’s move is raising slogans from the Syrians
The Syrians chanted by Trump’s announcement that the United States would move to lift sanctions on the besieged Middle East.
SANA news agency, in the state, published the video and photographs of the Syrians who chanted in Amayad Square, the largest in the country’s capital, Damascus. Others supplied their pods, or waved the new Syrian flag in the celebration.
People’s whistle and chanted as fireworks sparked the night sky.
A statement issued by the Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs called for the announcement of “a pivotal turning point for the Syrian people and we are seeking to appear from a long and painful separation of the war.”
The statement added, “The removal of these sanctions provides a vital opportunity for Syria to follow stability, self -sufficiency and meaningful national reconstruction, led by the Syrian people.”
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