Syrian Interim Leader Expected to Visit White House

Syrian interim president Ahmad al‑Sharaa is expected to visit the White House around Nov. 10, U.S. envoy Tom Barrack and Syrian officials said, in what would be the first official visit by a Syrian head of state to Washington in modern times. The trip — following meetings between al‑Sharaa and President Trump in May and at the U.N. in September — is aimed at reframing U.S.–Syria ties and will focus on lifting sanctions, reconstruction and counter‑terrorism cooperation. U.S. officials hope al‑Sharaa will sign onto the U.S.‑led coalition against ISIS, and Washington is pressing for U.S.‑brokered de‑escalation and security talks between Syria and Israel. Al‑Sharaa’s past links to Islamist insurgents, including a reported $10 million U.S. bounty earlier in his career, underscore the political and security sensitivities around his reintegration into diplomacy. Observers warn significant hurdles remain, including integration of the Syrian Democratic Forces, concerns about foreign fighters, unrest in Sweida and pending U.S. sanctions legislation that could complicate any rapid normalization.