British News Agency

The announcement came after President Donald Trump met with Syrian President Ahmed al-Shara at the White House — the first visit by a Syrian leader in the country’s history.

In an interview with Fox News, al-Shara said the visit was part of a “new era” of cooperation between his country and the United States.

Trump expressed his support for al-Shara, who until recently had been labeled a terrorist by the US government.

Syria will become the 90th nation to join the global coalition aimed at eliminating the remaining elements of the so-called ISIS and halting the flow of foreign fighters into the Middle East.

After the meeting, a senior official confirmed that the US Treasury Department, in coordination with the Departments of State and Commerce, will announce new measures to lift economic restrictions on Syria and “provide clarity for investors regarding compliance.”

As part of these measures, the administration will suspend for 180 days the Caesar Act, which has imposed sanctions on the former Syrian government since 2019.

Hours after the meeting, Trump told reporters in the Oval Office, “We want Syria to become a very successful country.”

“And I believe this leader can achieve that. I truly believe it,” he added.

Diplomatic relations between the United States and Syria have been suspended since 2012, but the US will now allow Syria to reopen its embassy in Washington.

This marks the third meeting between the two leaders, following dinners held in May during the Gulf Cooperation Council and in September during the UN General Assembly.

Al-Shara’s visit to the White House represents the latest chapter in the remarkable rehabilitation of a former jihadist.

He previously led a branch of al-Qaeda, the group behind the September 11 attacks and several others, before breaking ties with it.

Until this year, he was the leader of the Islamist militant group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, which the US officially designated a terrorist organization and had offered a $10 million bounty for his capture.

The Treasury Department removed al-Shara from its list of “Specially Designated Global Terrorists” last week.

Since becoming Syria’s interim president, al-Shara has sought to soften his public image while working with external support to rebuild the country after 13 years of war.