US President Donald Trump has met with Syria’s interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa, the first such meeting between the two countries’ leaders in 25 years, PA Media reports.
The meeting, which took place on the sidelines of Trump’s meeting with Gulf Cooperation Council leaders, marks a major turn of events for Syria, which recently overthrew long-time leader Bashar al-Assad.
It is also notable given that al-Sharaa, known by his nom de guerre Abu Mohammed al-Golani, has links to al-Qaeda and joined rebels fighting US forces in Iraq before joining the war in Syria.
Trump has previously said he will begin lifting sanctions on Syria.
He said he was urged to take this step by Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.