President Trump meets with Syrian leader

President Donald Trump on Wednesday met with interim Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa during his trip to Saudi Arabia, marking the first meeting between the countries' leaders since 1994. The meeting came the day after Trump announced plans to lift long-standing sanctions against Syria in an attempt to normalize relations with the country after the Assad regime fell last year. The United States in 1979 designated Syria as a state sponsor of terrorism and added other sanctions in 2004 and 2011. Lifting sanctions would give the country a chance to recover and prosper, Trump said Tuesday at a business forum.

What happened at the meeting? Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan joined the meeting between Trump and al-Sharaa by phone and praised the plan to lift sanctions, according to White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt. Trump urged al-Sharaa to:

• Sign the Abraham Accords with Israel.

• Order foreign and Palestinian terrorists to leave or deport them.

• Help the United States prevent the resurgence of the terrorist Islamic State group, known as ISIS.

• Assume responsibility for ISIS detention centers in Northeast Syria.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio was expected to meet with Syria’s foreign minister in Turkey later this week, Trump said.

Who is al-Sharaa? The new self-declared president of Syria is the leader of the terrorist opposition group that overthrew former President Bashar al-Assad. al-Sharaa has promised to make reforms in the country. Meanwhile, fighting between government forces and insurgents who are loyal to al-Assad has killed hundreds of civilians.

What is next for Trump’s trip? Trump on Wednesday arrived in Doha, Qatar where he was met by the Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani. He is expected to travel to the United Arab Emirates on Thursday.

Dig deeper: Read Leo Briceno’s report about U.S. lawmakers considering lifting sanctions on Syria.