A video of Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa playing basketball has gone viral on social media on the eve of his arrival in Washington on Sunday.
The undated video was posted online and has been shared numerous times. According to a post by Wladimir van Wilgenburg, the co-author of two books on the Kurds, the video “shows Syrian Int President Ahmad al-Sharaa and Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani playing basketball with US military officials, including CENTCOM’s [Central Command’s] Admiral Brad Cooper and anti-ISIS coalition head Brig.-Gen. Kevin Lambert.”
Rudaw news network noted that the video was shared by Shaibani, indicating that the Syrian transitional government is proud of the video.
The video has been widely shared by various types of commentators, such as critics of the Syrian government, due to the perception that Sharaa is an extremist. In addition to being detained by the US in Iraq in the early 2000s, he has also been linked to al-Qaeda.
However, that has all changed now. Sanctions have been lifted on Sharaa and members of his group, Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham. Sharaa and HTS rolled into Damascus on December eight, when the Assad regime fled.
Sharaa deepening ties with Washington
Now, he is making moves with Washington. Syrian state media SANA noted on Sunday that “President Ahmad al-Sharaa met with representatives of Syrian-American organizations in Washington on Sunday, according to a statement by the presidency on its Telegram channel. Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani also attended the meeting.
The report added that "the president praised the organizations’ contributions to raising awareness of Syrian issues and strengthening Syria’s active presence within American society. He emphasized the importance of their role in supporting national causes and deepening ties with the homeland.”
It further noted, “President al-Sharaa arrived in the United States late on Saturday (local time) for an official visit and is scheduled to meet with President Donald Trump on Monday, November 10, at the White House.” Sharaaa had also been in Brazil prior to the US trip for the COP30 environmental confab.
The basketball video with the American commanders is not the first time that the Syrian leader has shown off his basketball skills. Six months ago, another video was also posted of him and the foreign minister playing some night ball.