US President Donald Trump’s special envoy to Syria, Thomas Barrack, met with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa in Istanbul, praising his efforts regarding foreign fighters and relations with Israel. The meeting occurred after the Trump administration lifted sanctions on Syria, which Sharaa noted continue to burden the Syrian populace and hinder economic recovery. They also discussed promoting foreign investments in Syria, particularly in energy and infrastructure, with the Syrian government expressing readiness to facilitate investor engagement in reconstruction efforts.