Syrian President Ahmed Al-Shara, who leads the jihadist group Hayat Taharir al-Sham (HTS), commended President Donald Trump for taking what he described as a “brave and historic” step by lifting sanctions in Syria on Wednesday.
Sharaa addressed the Syrian people after meeting with President Trump in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, during the first leg of a three-stop tour in the Middle East. The meeting was arranged by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, following HTS’s previous engagement with Sharaa after he overthrew the Assad regime around fifty years ago in Damascus.
This marks the first occasion in 25 years that a U.S. president has met with a Syrian head of state.
On Tuesday, prior to the meeting, President Trump announced his intent to lift sanctions on Syria. After meeting with Sharaa, he expressed his surprise at the discussions.
Syria currently remains on the State Department’s list of states sponsoring terrorism due to the actions of former dictator Bashar Assad, who maintained close ties with Iran and its network of terror groups. This relationship has led to a decade of civil war and numerous atrocities against civilians. HTS, led by Sharaa—an associate of Al-Qaeda known as Abu Mohammed Al-Jolani—overthrew the Assad regime last December, causing the dictator to seek refuge in Moscow.
As one of several factions opposing the Assad regime, HTS has garnered long-standing animosities from Iranian and Shiite terror groups and has not participated in the crimes committed by Assad. Their own violent actions, particularly against groups such as Christians and Alawite Shiites, have also been documented, with instances as recent as March. Sharaa has tried to distance himself from such violent acts.
In his speech, Sharaa revealed that he and his jihadist officials had been collaborating over the past six months. According to a translation from the state-run Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA), he highlighted efforts to engage the international community—especially neighboring countries—to reinforce his country’s stability and not to undermine his movements in the West.
Discussions with leaders from Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Egypt reinforced Sharaa’s belief that Syrians have felt the solidarity and support from their neighbors. He noted, “Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has promised to advocate for the lifting of sanctions on Syria.”
Sharaa expressed that he perceived genuine care and a visionary outlook for Syria’s economic future from his counterparts.
He mentioned that various leaders had honored their promises, stating that “President Trump responded to this love.” He characterized the decision to lift sanctions as a courageous measure that could alleviate suffering and foster local stability.
Sharaa underscored the immense suffering endured by the Syrian people under Assad’s regime, stating they had been subjected to torture, persecution, and significant civilian casualties.
Sharaa has expressed intentions to invite foreign investors to engage with Syria and ensure that it is not used as a battleground for external political agendas. He noted that foreign intervention has historically driven divisions within Syria, and he now seeks to prevent that from happening.
He declared, “Syria is no longer a chessboard for power struggles or foreign ambitions.”
In January, HTS proclaimed Sharaa as the president of the country. Yet, he confessed that a return to democracy is far from imminent, mentioning that free and fair elections might not be feasible for several years as the nation works to rebuild from the devastation of the civil war that started in 2011. Trump’s announcement regarding sanctions does not seem to include HTS.
Trump conveyed positive sentiments following his encounter with Sharaa.
He described Sharaa as a “young and attractive man,” noting his toughness and leadership potential, adding, “He has a real shot at making this work.”
Trump emphasized the importance of providing opportunities and expressed his honor in facilitating these discussions.
