Trump's shocking move: Ahmed al-Shara, a terrorist with a bounty of ₹84 crore, described as capable, ban lifted from Syria

Riyadh: US President Donald Trump met Syria's interim President Ahmed al-Shara, who was once an al-Qaeda-linked terrorist and on whose head the US had placed a bounty of ₹84 crore ($10 million) in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia. Trump praised al-Shara as a "capable and tough warrior" and announced the lifting of all US sanctions imposed on Syria since 1979. This meeting was the first historic meeting between the US and Syrian leaders after 25 years. This move has created a stir in global diplomacy. Let us look at the facts, reasons and effects of this development.

Ahmed al-Shara: From terrorist to president

Ahmed al-Shara, formerly known as Abu Mohammed al-Julani, was born in 1982 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. His family later settled in Damascus, Syria, and he has roots in the Golan Heights. After the US invasion of Iraq in 2003, al-Shara joined al-Qaeda and fought against US forces. He was imprisoned in Iraq from 2006 to 2011. In 2012, he founded the al-Nusra Front in Syria, which later became Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS). In December 2024, al-Shara, under the leadership of HTS, overthrew the government of Bashar al-Assad and became the interim president of Syria in January 2025.

The US had declared al-Shara a terrorist in 2013 and placed a $10 million bounty on him, which was lifted in December 2024. During the meeting, Trump described al-Shara as a "charming and strong leader" and said, "He has a historic opportunity to reshape Syria."

Why lift sanctions from Syria?

Trump announced at the Saudi-US Investment Forum in Riyadh on May 14 that he was lifting all sanctions on Syria that had been in place since 1979. The decision was taken at the request of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who wanted economic aid to rebuild Syria.

Syria's economy has been devastated by civil war and sanctions. In 2010, Syria exported 3.8 lakh barrels of oil per day, which has now dropped to zero. By 2022, the sanctions have caused losses of $107 billion. Sanctions cut Syria off from the global banking system, halted imports and blocked investment. Trump said, "Syria deserves a chance to peace and prosper." After this decision, people took to the streets in Damascus, burst fireworks and waved the new Syrian flag. 

Trump's strategy: New equation in the Middle East

Trump made three demands in his meeting with Al-Shara:

1. Normalization of relations with Israel: Trump asked Al-Shara to join the Abraham Accords and recognize Israel, although Syria did not ratify it.
2. Expulsion of foreign terrorists: Trump demanded the removal of foreign terrorists from Syria.
3. Cooperation against ISIS: Al-Shara has called in a Qatari forensic team to take action against ISIS and search for remains of American citizens.

Experts believe the move is part of Trump's "America First" policy, which focuses on economic and diplomatic gains in the Middle East. The support of Saudi Arabia and Turkey gives legitimacy to Al-Shara, and may be part of a strategy to reduce the influence of Iran, which supported the Assad regime.

Israeli concerns and global response

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had opposed the lifting of the ban, calling Al-Shara "jihadists". Trump's decision exposed tensions in Israel-US relations. Netanyahu said the move was a threat to regional stability.

The United Nations and European countries welcomed the lifting of sanctions, but some US lawmakers questioned Trump's decision. Senator Lindsey Graham said it was wrong to lift sanctions unconditionally. The Syrian Foreign Ministry called it a "historic" step and a new beginning for reconstruction.

Al-Shara's new image

Al-Shara has presented himself as a liberal leader after taking power. He now wears suits instead of military uniforms and has taken action against drug trafficking such as Captagon. He had demanded the removal of sanctions from Western countries, which Trump fulfilled.

Conclusion

Trump's meeting with Al-Shara and the decision to lift the sanctions could give rise to new geopolitical equations in the Middle East. The move will give Syria a chance to connect to the global economy and rebuild, but there is also a risk of increasing tensions with Israel and Iran. Will Al-Shara lead Syria to peace and prosperity? The future will tell.