Sun Nov 09 02:58:40 UTC 2025: Syrian President Visits US Amid Anti-ISIS Operation, Seeks Support
Washington, D.C. – Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa has arrived in the United States for a historic visit, marking the first time a Syrian president has visited the US since 1946. The visit comes as Syria announced the launch of a “large-scale security operation” targeting ISIS cells across the country.
Al-Sharaa, who took power after rebel forces ousted Bashar al-Assad, is scheduled to meet with President Donald Trump at the White House on Monday. Washington is hoping to enlist Syria in the US-led global coalition against ISIS.
The US previously removed al-Sharaa from a “terrorist” sanctions list on Friday, and is reportedly preparing to establish a military presence at an airbase in Damascus. The move is intended to help broker a security pact between Syria and Israel.
Al-Sharaa is expected to seek financial aid for Syria, which faces a massive rebuilding effort after 13 years of civil war. The World Bank estimates reconstruction costs to be at least $216 billion.
Prior to assuming the presidency, Al-Sharaa led Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a group that was delisted as a terrorist organization by Washington in July. The group originally was an offshoot of al-Qaeda, but broke away from the network a decade ago and later clashed with ISIS.
Simultaneously, Syrian state media reported that security forces conducted 61 raids across the country on Saturday, resulting in the arrest of at least 71 people and the seizure of explosives and weapons. The operations, carried out in multiple governorates, are part of “ongoing nation efforts to combat terrorism and protect public safety,” according to the Syrian Interior Ministry.
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