President Donald Trump met with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa on Wednesday in Riyadh, marking the first meeting between US and Syrian leaders in 25 years. The two spoke for about 30 minutes ahead of Trump’s summit with leaders from six Arab nations.

 

Trump praised al-Sharaa, a former rebel commander who helped oust Syria’s Bashar al-Assad, calling him a “young, attractive guy. Tough guy. Strong past. Very strong past. Fighter.”

 

Speaking aboard Air Force One en route to Qatar, Trump added, “He’s got a real shot at holding it together. I spoke with President Erdogan, who is very friendly with him. He feels he’s got a shot of doing a good job. It’s a torn up country.”

 

The meeting comes a day after Trump announced the US would lift sanctions on Syria, a major shift in policy that could ease the country’s deep economic crisis and signal support for its reintegration into the international community.