'Meeting is the message': On US visit, Syria's Sharaa eyes boost against Israel, SDF and sanctions

Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa is visiting the White House to cement an alignment with the United States and join a US-led coalition against the Islamic State group. The visit aims to bolster Syria's position against an Israeli occupation in the south, issues with Kurdish fighters, and a struggling economy under sanctions. In a significant diplomatic shift, the US has removed sanctions and the Specially Designated Global Terrorist designation from Sharaa ahead of the meeting. Syria is also deepening military ties with Turkey and receiving financial support from Qatar and Saudi Arabia.