(MENAFN) Syria’s President Ahmed Al Sharaa arrived in the United States on Saturday for an official visit, marking a historic moment after Washington removed him from its terrorism blacklist. The leader, whose forces ousted Bashar al-Assad late last year, is scheduled to meet US President Donald Trump at the White House on Monday.

Analysts note that this is the first visit by a Syrian president to the US since the country gained independence in 1946. Sharaa previously met Trump in Riyadh during the US president’s regional tour in May.

A US envoy to Syria stated that Sharaa is expected to "hopefully" sign an agreement to join the international US-led alliance against the Daesh terror group. A diplomatic source in Syria added that the United States plans to set up a military base near Damascus "to coordinate humanitarian aid and observe developments between Syria and Israel."

The US State Department’s removal of Sharaa from the blacklist was widely anticipated. A spokesperson said Sharaa’s government had been meeting US requirements, including efforts to locate missing Americans and eliminate remaining chemical weapons. "These actions are being taken in recognition of the progress demonstrated by the Syrian leadership after the departure of Bashar al-Assad and more than 50 years of repression under the Assad regime," the spokesperson said, adding that delisting would promote "regional security and stability as well as an inclusive, Syrian-led and Syrian-owned political process."

Meanwhile, Syria’s interior ministry announced a campaign to neutralize Daesh threats, reporting 61 raids and 71 arrests targeting sleeper cells in cities including Aleppo, Idlib, Hama, Homs, Deir ez-Zor, Raqqa, and Damascus.

Upon arriving in the US, Sharaa posted a social media video of him playing basketball with military officials, captioned, "work hard, play harder."

Sharaa’s visit follows his September address to the UN General Assembly in New York, marking the first time in decades that a Syrian president spoke at the UN. The Security Council recently voted to lift UN sanctions against him.

Sharaa’s group, formerly affiliated with Al Qaeda, had been removed from the US terrorist list as recently as July. Since assuming power, Syria’s new leadership has sought to distance itself from its violent past and cultivate a more moderate image domestically and internationally.

The White House visit is seen as symbolic of the US commitment to a reformed Syria and highlights Sharaa’s transformation from militant leader to statesman, according to international analysts.

Sharaa is expected to request financial support for Syria, which faces immense challenges after 13 years of civil war. The World Bank estimates the cost of rebuilding the country at $216 billion.

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