President Donald Trump is expected to sign an executive order ending U.S. sanctions on Syria. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Monday sanctions will remain in place on former President Bashar Assad,

White House executive order removes sanctions on Syria as President Trump meets with controversial new Syrian leader Ahmed al-Sharaa, whose group overthrew Assad in March.

The US has lifted most of its sanctions on Syria, saying the move would give the country an “opportunity” to rebuild an economy ravaged by more than 14 years of civil war. President Donald Trump signed an executive order terminating the sanctions programme on Monday.