Syria's Sharaa in Washington - AL-Monitor: The Middle Eastʼs leading independent news source since 2012

Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa is visiting Washington on Monday, Nov. 10, 2025, marking the first Washington visit by a sitting Syrian president. Ahead of the visit, Al-Monitor hosted an exclusive live webinar bringing together senior correspondents and regional experts.

Amberin Zaman, Elizabeth Hagedorn, Danny Makki, and Joyce Karam discussed what this visit signals for diplomacy, regional alignments, sanctions and future cooperation between Damascus and Washington.

DELIL SOULEIMAN/AFP via Getty Images

Analysis

Plan to bring Syria into US-led coalition brings risks, opportunities for Sharaa

Jared Szuba

In Washington, DC, reporting on defense, national security, military

A picture taken in Damascus on Dec. 9, 2024, shows the building of the Iranian Embassy, which was ransacked after anti-government fighters took the Syrian capital the previous day, with a portrait of Iran's slain Revolutionary Guards commander, Qasem Soleimani, still hanging on its fence.

Analysis

As Sharaa heads to Washington, Iran looks to Russia to rebuild Syria ties

A correspondent in Tehran

A correspondent in Tehran

In Tehran, reporting on politics

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (R) and Syria's interim president Ahmed al-Sharaa shake hands during a joint press conference following their meeting at the Presidential Palace in Ankara, on Feb. 4, 2025.

Analysis

Turkey eyes dividends from Sharaa-Trump meeting, but SDF talks test Ankara

Ezgi Akin

In Ankara, reporting on diplomacy, EU-Turkey ties, NATO

Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa visits with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres (off frame) during the United Nations General Assembly at the UN headquarters in New York City on Sept. 24, 2025.

UN Security Council votes to lift sanctions on Syria's Sharaa

Elizabeth Hagedorn

Elizabeth Hagedorn

In Washington, DC, reporting on diplomacy, regional politics, human rights