"He's got the potential - he's a real leader," Trump said on Air Force One after meeting Syrian Interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa.

US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that he will order the “cessation of sanctions against Syria to give them a fresh start,” and move to normalize relations with its new government.

It is likely to be seen as a blow by the Israeli government, which escalated military and territorial advancements in Syria in the wake of the Assad collapse.