Part 13/18:
The move follows President Trump’s recent discreet efforts to normalize relations, including a high-level meeting with Syrian interim President Ahmed al-Sharah, a former al-Qaeda operative now seeking rapprochement and regional stability. U.S. officials emphasize a gradual, step-by-step process—starting with dialogue and non-aggression agreements—aimed at reducing hostilities and possibly delisting Syria as a state sponsor of terrorism, a designation considered obsolete with the current regime.