WASHINGTON (TNND) — President Donald Trump is set to meet with Syrian President Ahmed al-Shara, the first time any Syrian leader has visited the White House.

Al-Shara is expected to sign an agreement to defeat the Islamic State, joining 88 other countries in doing so.

The Islamic state remains active within Syria. Al-Shara was once imprisoned by the United States in Iraq and named a terrorist, with the United States placing a $10 million bounty on him.

Al-Shara led a rebel coalition that took down Bashar al-Assad’s government in December, ending Syria’s 50-year dictatorship. He also led Syria’s al-Qaeda affiliate before Hayat Tahrir al-Sham cut ties with al-Qaeda in 2017.

After taking over Syria’s government, al-Shara is looking to rebuild Syria, and Trump has welcomed al-Shara with open arms. 

The United States dropped the bounty on al-Shara’s head in December, as well as un-designating Hayat Tahrir al-Sham as a terrorist group, the one that al-Shara previously led.

Trump has exempted Syria from sanctions, pledging support for Syria’s rebuild. Trump is also pushing for Congress to repeal the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act that was put into law in 2019, which imposes punishing sanctions on Syria.