US President Donald Trump lifts sanctions on Syria

US President Donald Trump has issued an order to remove all sanctions on Syria. The very next day, he met in Riyadh with Syrian President Ahmed al-Shara, who was once on America's most wanted terrorist list. This meeting has become the cause of a big stir in global politics. Ahmad al-Shara was once known as Abu Mohammed al-Julani. He had planned several suicide attacks in Syria in 2011 and in 2017 the US announced a $10 million bounty on him. He later split from Al Qaeda and became the head of the 'Hayat Tahrir al-Sham' (HTS) organization. Al-Shara took over the reins of Syria after Bashar al-Assad's power fell in December 2024. It was only after he became president that his real name came out.

Trump-al-Shara meeting: First time in 25 years

Trump and Al-Shara had a conversation in Riyadh for about 37 minutes, in which Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was also present. It was the first time in 25 years that a U.S. president had met with a Syrian president. Trump described al-Shara as a "young and dynamic leader" and said he talked to her about normalising relations with Israel and driving out foreign fighters from Syria.

Trump explains the reason for lifting the ban

Trump said that he has taken this decision keeping in mind the national security interests. U.S. law gives the president the authority to abolish sanctions in necessary circumstances. He said that before this decision, he had also consulted with the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia and President Erdogan of Turkey. Both leaders supported lifting of sanctions on Syria.

U.S. has had a tough stance on Syria since 2011

The toughest sanctions on Syria were imposed by the US in 2011, when President Assad's government was accused of violence and the use of chemical weapons against its own citizens. A 2013 chemical attack killed 1,144 people in Damascus, including 99 children. The US has also accused the Assad government of colluding with Iran and Russia to create regional instability, which has led to Syria's isolation on the global stage.