US President Donald Trump met with Syrian interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa today, the first such meeting between the leaders of the two countries in 25 years.
The meeting, taking place on the sidelines of Trump's meeting with leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council in Saudi Arabia, marks a major turning point for Syria, which is still recovering from civil war and more than 50 years of strict rule by the Assad family.
It is also significant given that Al-Shara, under the nom de guerre Abu Mohammed al-Golani, was affiliated with Al-Qaeda and joined the insurgents fighting US forces in Iraq before entering the Syrian war.
Trump announced the meeting yesterday, saying the US would also take steps to lift economic sanctions on Syria.
Syria has been under US sanctions since 1979 as a "state sponsor of terrorism" due to Syria's military occupation of Lebanon and state support for Hezbollah.
The meeting was held behind closed doors and journalists were not allowed to attend.
The White House did not say who else was at the meeting or provide any other details about the conversation.
Trump said he wanted to give Syria "a chance for peace" under al-Shaara's rule.
Al-Shara was appointed interim president of Syria in January, a month after a sudden and swift offensive by rebel groups that toppled Bashar al-Assad.
Many leaders of the Gulf Arab countries support him and are trying to persuade Trump to follow their example, believing it to be a bulwark against the return of Iranian influence in Syria.
The last time the presidents of the two countries met was in 2000 in Geneva - Hafez Assad and Bill Clinton.
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