Washington welcoming Syria, Is is good for Israel?

Syrian president Ahmed al-Sharaa’s meeting in the White House with US President Donald Trump was the first official visit to the United States by a Syrian president since its independence in 1946. The official state visit is part of al-Sharaa’s largely successful charm offensive to establish new ties with countries that had shunned the previous Assad’s government after its brutal crackdown on protesters in 2011 spiraled into a 14-year civil war. Syria is widely expected to officially join the US-led coalition against the Islamic State group and will likely push for a removal of sanctions imposed on his country. “Americanization in Syria is good,” said Middle East analyst Seth Frantzman. He told reporter Arieh O’Sullivan that it would also offset heavy Turkish influence in Damascus. (photo: AP) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.