French President Emmanuel Macron urged the U.S. and the European Union to lift sanctions on Syria following a visit from Syrian leader Ahmed al-Sharaa, who recently toppled dictator Bashar Assad.

Macron emphasized that lifting sanctions would benefit all parties, including the U.S., and suggested maintaining troops in Syria to assess the situation later.

Al-Sharaa, a former Al Qaeda member, has pledged to protect minority groups and pursue more inclusive policies, though recent sectarian violence has raised concerns about his ability to control extremist factions, Politico has reported.

Macron also encouraged the EU to continue suspending sanctions, with a June deadline for review approaching.

Written by B.C. Begley