WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump is hosting Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa at the White House on Monday, welcoming the once-pariah state into a U.S-led global coalition to fight the Islamic State group.

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Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa has arrived at the White House for his meeting with President Donald Trump

Monday's meeting is the first visit by a Syrian head of state since the country gained independence in 1946

The meeting is closed to the press

The two men met in Saudi Arabia in May, when the U.S. eased sanctions on Syria

Al-Sharaa arrived at the White House a little after 11:30 a.m. and began his Oval Office meeting shortly after. The meeting is closed to the press, and the Syrian president entered the building through West Executive Avenue, adjacent

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