Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa is scheduled to visit Washington, D.C., on Nov. 10 and meet with President Trump at the White House, Tom Barrack, the U.S. envoy to Syria and U.S. ambassador to Turkey, confirmed to CBS News on Saturday.
This would mark the first-ever visit by a Syrian president to the White House, and the third meeting between Mr. Trump and al-Sharaa.
CBS News has reached out to the White House for more details.
Al-Sharaa, who once led an affiliate of al Qaeda and was designated as a terrorist by the U.S. in 2013, led a surprise attack on Aleppo in November 2024. This led to the end of 54 years of the Assad family’s tyrannical rule in 11 days. Leaders of the militias appointed him as president of Syria in January.
Mr. Trump met with al-Sharaa in Saudi Arabia in May, highlighting the stunning reversal in fortunes for the former Islamist militant who spent years with a U.S. government bounty on his head. Mr. Trump called him a “young, attractive guy, tough guy, strong past,” aboard Air Force One following their meeting.
Their meeting came a day after Mr. Trump announced that his administration was lifting U.S. sanctions on Syria “to give them a chance at greatness.”
In September, al-Sharaa addressed the U.N. General Assembly — the first time a president from his country had done so in nearly six decades.
“Syria is reclaiming its rightful place among the nations of the world,” he said in his speech.
Civil war in Syria started in 2011 and ended last year — a conflict that pushed about half of Syria’s population out of their homes. Al-Sharaa is now facing questions over whether he can unify, stabilize and democratize the nation.
He told “60 Minutes” last month that it’s important to give people hope for rebuilding and returning to their homes after the destruction and says he believes his country will be rebuilt in his lifetime.
“The Syrian people are strong,” al-Sharaa said.
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