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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
Bel Trew

Why Syrian president’s Donald Trump visit is so significant - but will it be a slam-dunk?

Donald Trump Ahmed alSharaa Syria Sharaa United States SDF ISIS Israel the White House Basketball

Nothing says you’re off the State Department’s terrorism list like a viral video of you shooting hoops with a gaggle of American military commanders.

That is just the latest bizarre episode in the extraordinary narrative arc of Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, who went from being an ex-al-Qaeda militant with a $10 million bounty on his head to being dubbed by Donald Trump, the Middle East’s new “young, attractive tough guy”.

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