Syria’s de facto leader and Lebanon’s new president extended their congratulations to President Donald Trump on Monday, expressing optimism for enhanced relations with the United States.
In a statement issued on behalf of the New Administration of Syria, former rebel leader Ahmed al-Sharaa, also known as Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, acknowledged the immense suffering endured by Syria over the past decade due to conflict. Al-Sharaa expressed confidence in President Trump's ability to bring peace to the Middle East and restore stability to the region. The statement emphasized the desire to strengthen bilateral ties through dialogue and mutual understanding.
Al-Sharaa assumed leadership of Syria’s interim government following the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad by his Islamist group, Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham (HTS), in December. The United States recently rescinded a $10 million bounty on Al-Sharaa after a meeting between a high-level US delegation and the former jihadist.
Meanwhile, Joseph Aou, the newly appointed president of Lebanon, also conveyed his congratulations to President Trump. Aou expressed hope that Trump's presidency would facilitate an improvement in bilateral relations between the two countries.
