As an al-Qaida fighter in Iraq, he was detained by the American military. As the leader of a U.S.-designated terror group fighting in Syria’s civil war, he had a $10 million bounty on his head.

Now, as the leader of a fast-changing Syria, Ahmad al-Sharaa shook hands Wednesday with U.S. President Donald Trump, who later described him as a “young, attractive guy” with a “very strong past.”

The handshake, at a meeting orchestrated by the leaders of Saudi Arabia and Turkey, captured al-Sharaa’s long journey from hardened jihadi to the leader of a country that is gradually shedding its pariah status as it cements ties with America’s top allies in the Middle East.

Trump said he would lift crippling sanctions that were imposed on the government of deposed Syrian President Bashar Assad, who was overthrown in December, expressing hope that al-Sharaa, who led the insurgency, can move Syria in a new direction. The news sparked celebrations across Syria, where the economy has been ravaged by 14 years of civil war and international isolation.

Here are more Trump administration headlines from Thursday:

Iran talks: Trump said Thursday that the United States and Iran have “sort of” agreed to terms on a nuclear deal, offering a measure of confidence that an accord is coming into sharper focus. Trump described talks as “very serious negotiations” for long-term peace. Still, throughout his four-day visit to the Gulf this week, the president has underscored that military action against Iran’s nuclear facilities remains a possibility if the talks derail.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa will take a trip to the United States next week to meet with Trump after allegations that “genocide” is being committed against white farmers in the majority Black country. South Africa has denied the allegations and set a meeting for next Wednesday. See Page 7

No impeachment effort: A Democratic lawmaker is backing down, for now, from a renegade bid to impeach President Donald Trump after colleagues in his own party criticized the effort and refused to support it. Rep. Shri Thanedar of Michigan isn’t abandoning his resolution to impeach Trump, saying that, as an immigrant, he wants to do all he can to protect America’s Constitution and its institutions. But with his own party leaders opposed, Thanedar late Wednesday edged back from forcing a vote that was certain to fail.

— From wire and Sinclair National Desk reports