In a historic diplomatic engagement, United States President Donald Trump on Monday received Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa at the White House — the first-ever visit by a Syrian leader to Washington.

The closed-door meeting, which came as the U.S. government extended the suspension of key sanctions on Damascus, marked a turning point in relations between both countries following the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime last year.

Al-Sharaa, a former al-Qaeda commander who assumed power in December 2024 after his forces toppled Assad, was received quietly at the White House, without the ceremonial fanfare usually associated with visiting heads of state. He reportedly entered through a side entrance, with no media presence or national flags on display.

Following the meeting, the U.S. Treasury Department announced a 180-day extension of the suspension of the “Caesar sanctions,” originally imposed in 2019 over human rights violations committed under Assad.

According to the department, the extension “underscores America’s commitment to continued sanctions relief for Syria’s transitional government.”

Although the Caesar Act remains in force and only Congress can repeal it, the move reflects Washington’s willingness to support Syria’s fragile transition and reintegrate the war-torn country into the international community.

A senior administration official told Reuters that discussions between Trump and Sharaa focused on security cooperation, economic reconstruction, and a possible U.S.-brokered security framework involving Syria and Israel.

Analysts say the visit underscores a shift in Washington’s Middle East policy under Trump, who has adopted a pragmatic engagement approach aimed at drawing Damascus closer to the West while reducing its dependency on Tehran and Moscow.

The development follows the U.S. and United Nations’ recent decision to lift long-standing terrorism designations on Sharaa and members of his cabinet. His name was also removed from the Treasury’s list of “Specially Designated Global Terrorists,” effectively ending his years of diplomatic isolation.

Syria is expected to formally join the U.S.-led coalition against the Islamic State group in the coming days, signaling a dramatic reversal from its previous posture.

Sharaa’s transformation — from a militant once branded a terrorist to a reform-minded president courting Western powers — has been described as one of the most remarkable political turnarounds in recent Middle Eastern history.

Meanwhile, Syrian authorities disclosed ahead of his U.S. trip that security forces had foiled two separate assassination plots by Islamic State cells targeting the president.

Despite resistance from some members of Congress, the Trump administration is reportedly pushing for a full repeal of the Caesar Act to pave the way for foreign investment and post-war reconstruction.

According to the World Bank, Syria would require over $200 billion to rebuild after more than a decade of conflict.