International press highlight al-Sharaa’s visit to White House, Iraq’s Elections 

Newspapers published this morning focused on Ahmed al-Sharaa’s meeting with US President Donald Trump at the White House, alongside the Iraqi parliamentary elections and their regional implications.

The cost and gains of al-Sharaa’s White House visit

Al-Quds Al-Arabi described the visit as an attempt by al-Sharaa to reinforce his legitimacy domestically and internationally, while seeking the lifting of US and international sanctions on his regime in exchange for political and economic backing that would solidify his authority in the post-Assad era.

The newspaper noted that al-Sharaa, in return, faces strict US conditions, including a complete break with the jihadist legacy, participation in the anti-terrorism coalition, and pursuit of extremist factions inside Syrian territory.

It also revealed potential security understandings with Israel, including a limited withdrawal from the Golan Heights in exchange for Syrian concessions, along with US pressure to restructure relations with the Syrian Democratic Forces, amid competing influence from Washington, Moscow, Ankara, and Tel Aviv on Syrian soil.

The paper concluded that al-Sharaa’s meeting with Trump could carry a heavy political cost for Syria, which may become a field for the division of international influence and multinational corporations’ interests while the Syrian people remain the biggest absentee in this new phase of “openness.”

Hezbollah and Israeli threats of War: US patience running out

Meanwhile, Al-Modon online newspaper considered the visit a major political shift in the region, noting that it was the first visit by a Syrian president to the White House since the country’s independence. The paper said the move symbolizes Damascus’ shift from its traditional eastern alignment toward openness to the West, comparing this change to Lebanon’s ongoing political stagnation, and criticizing Hezbollah’s role in turning Lebanon into a failed state incapable of implementing its international commitments.

It also pointed to growing US and Israeli pressure on Beirut, with the possibility of Israel being given the green light to resume military operations in the south, as part of Trump’s plan to end the Gaza war and ensure Lebanon’s stability.

The importance of Iraq’s elections

Regarding Iraq, Al-Bayan newspaper described the parliamentary elections as more than just a domestic affair, reflecting the nature of the regional and international struggle for political decision-making in Baghdad.

The paper pointed out that there are three main centers influencing the formation of the government and the selection of the prime minister: Najaf, Tehran, and Washington.

It added that Trump’s rise to power and the stalemate in nuclear negotiations with Tehran have negatively affected previous understandings regarding Iraq, at a time when Washington’s interest in Baghdad’s role is growing.

A-H 

ANHA