U.S. President Donald Trump met with Syria's president in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday and urged him to normalise ties with longtime foe Israel after a surprise U.S. announcement that it would lift all sanctions on the Islamist-led government.

President Trump says he will move to normalize relations and lift sanctions on Syria's new government to give the country "a chance at peace."

President Donald Trump on Tuesday held out Saudi Arabia as a model for a reimagined Middle East, using the first major foreign

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia -- U.S. President Donald Trump met with interim Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday, the first encounter between the two nations’ leaders in 25 years and one that could serve as a turning point for Syria as it struggles to emerge from decades of international isolation.

Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa has said that his government is holding indirect talks with Israel to bring an end to Israeli attacks on Syria.

President Donald Trump laid out a number of asks of Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, including to fully normalize relations with Israel under Abraham Accords in exchange for sanctions relief.

Israel has used attacks on religious minority by forces loyal to Syria's new government to justify strikes across the border

Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa says that his country is holding indirect talks with Israel to prevent recent hostilities from getting out of control.

During a Saudi Arabia meeting, US President Trump urged Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa to normalize relations with Israel, following a US announcement to lift sanctions on Syria.

The president's decision on sanctions does not mean he's chosen to side with self-described "restraint" advocates over foreign policy hawks in Washington.

The United Nations special envoy for Syria has condemned an intense wave of Israeli airstrikes as Israel said its forces were on the ground in Syria to protect the Druze minority sect following days of clashes with Syrian pro-government gunmen.