Dhaka, May 14 -- US President Donald Trump has praised Syria's President Ahmed al-Sharaa as a "great" and "tough guy" during remarks to reporters aboard Air Force One en route to Doha.

Reflecting on his recent meeting with al-Sharaa during his trip to Saudi Arabia, Trump described the Syrian leader as "young," "attractive," and a "tough guy." He noted al-Sharaa's past links to al-Qaeda but said the leader has a "strong past" as a "fighter."

Trump to meet Syrian leader before visiting Qatar during Mideast trip

"He's got a real shot at pulling it together," Trump said, adding that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan shares his view.

Trump also expressed optimism about the future of Syrian-Israeli relations, suggesting that normalizat...