Syria's interim president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, has arrived in Washington on an official visit.
The United States recently announced a $10 million reward for his capture as a terrorist, and now President Donald Trump will receive him at the White House as the Syrian leader, writes the BBC.
Al-Sharaa's arrival in Washington is historic: no Syrian president has ever paid an official visit to the United States before.
The last time a high-ranking Syrian official visited the White House was in December 1999. At that time, it was Syrian Foreign Minister Farouk al-Sharaa, who was participating in peace talks with Israel.
Now, Ahmed al-Sharaa is trying to restore relations with countries that have avoided contact with Damascus for years.
Ahead of the official visit, the UN Security Council removed al-Sharaa and the country's Interior Minister, Anas Khattab, from its sanctions list.
"By adopting this document, the Council sends a strong political signal, recognizing that Syria is entering a new era," said Mike Waltz, the US ambassador to the UN, after the vote.
As Reuters reported, Washington spent several months persuading the 15-member Security Council to lift sanctions on al-Sharaa. The corresponding resolution was drafted and put to a vote by US diplomats. In December, the US withdrew its offer of a $10 million reward for al-Sharaa's capture.
