Trump presses Syria leader on Israel relations after lifting sanctions

During a state visit to Riyadh, US President Donald Trump urged Syria’s interim leader, Ahmed al-Sharaa, to normalize relations with Israel and join the Abraham Accords, while announcing the lifting of crippling sanctions on Syria. This meeting marked the first between a US president and a Syrian leader in 25 years, with discussions focusing on counterterrorism and reconstruction support. The Syrian foreign ministry described the meeting as “historic,” celebrating the sanctions relief as a pivotal turning point for the war-torn nation, despite concerns over Trump’s stance on Syria’s terrorism designation.