From the Liveblog of
Monday, November 10, 2025
Trump to meet Sharaa at White House today, capping whirlwind turnaround for Syria
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Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa’s White House meeting with US President Donald Trump later today caps a stunning year for the rebel-turned-ruler who toppled a longtime autocratic leader and has since toured the world as he seeks to end Syria’s international isolation.
Trump is set to welcome Sharaa in the first-ever visit by a Syrian president to the White House, six months after the pair first met in Saudi Arabia and just days after Washington said the former al Qaeda member was no longer a “Specially Designated Global Terrorist.”
Sharaa, 42, took power last year after his Islamist fighters launched a lightning offensive from their enclave in Syria’s northwest and overthrew longtime Syrian President Bashar al-Assad just days later on December 8.
Syria’s regional realignment has since moved at a dizzying pace, away from Assad’s key allies Iran and Russia and toward Turkey, the Gulf, and Washington.
Security is likely to be a top focus of the meeting.
The US is brokering talks between Syria and Israel on a possible security pact, and the US is said to be planning to establish a military presence at a Damascus airbase.
Syria is also set to join a US-led coalition to fight Islamic State, which could be formally announced at the White House meeting.
The Times of Israel Community.