Trump praises Saudi crown prince’s economic choices
President and prince look past differing views of Yemen war.
Afrin, which Turkish troops and allied Syrian forces captured from the Syrian Kurd- ish militia on Sunday.
The government offensive on eastern Ghouta has driven
45,000 residents from their homes, according to the latWASHINGTON — Saudi AraBEIRUT — The Syrian governest figures from the U.N.’s bia Crown Prince Mohamment sent reinforcements to refugee agency. med bin Salman opened a a southern neighborhood Spokesman Andrej Mahe- marathon tour of the United in Damascus on Tuesday cic told reporters in Geneva States on Tuesday by soakafter losing it to Islamic State on Tuesday that UNHCR is ing in praise from President militants after days of fight- not involved in the evacuaDonald Trump, who chaming that killed dozens of sol- tion into government-con- pioned close economic ties diers and pro-government trolled areas near Damas- and increased military sales militiamen, a monitoring cus, though its teams have to the Saudis as he hosted the group said. been at “makeshift collec- young heir to the throne in
Islamic State militants late tive shelters.” the Oval Office.
Monday captured Damascus’ He said thousands of peoTrump and the crown Qadam neighborhood, which al-Shami, a spokesman for ple were “still trapped by prince looked past the two had been largely left vacant the group, said of the resfierce fighting and in dire nations’ differing views about as the government’s month- cuers. need of aid,” and a shortwaging war in Yemen as they long campaign to retake the The New York-based Phyage of shelters was “a major came together for an Oval city’s eastern Ghouta subsicians for Human Rights concern.” Office meeting and working urbs from the rebels had monitoring group has docWith Qadam, the IS group lunch. Instead, they focused drawn significant firepower umented numerous governhas expanded its footprint in on areas of easy agreement: and resources to that front. ment and Russian attacks on the southern corners of the Saudi investments in the U.S.,
At least 36 soldiers and hospitals and paramedical Syrian capital, after holding American arm sales to the pro-government militiamen services throughout Syria’s the nearby Hajr al-Aswad kingdom and sharp criticism were killed in clashes over seven-year civil war. neighborhood and Yarmouk of their mutual foe: Iran. Qadam, according to the Resid e nts in another Palestinian camp for years. Trump sounded an omi- Britain-based Syrian Obser- Ghouta town, Douma, also The militants circulated a nous note as he looked ahead vatory for Human Rights, reported indiscriminate statement on Twitter saying to a decision in May about which also reported the govshelling and airstrikes. they took Qadam. whether to stay in the Iran ernment reinforcements. “I haven’t been able to go Qadam was held by rebels nuclear deal, loathed by both
In eastern Ghouta, rescue out to look for food since yesuntil they surrendered the Trump and the Saudis. “We’ll workers were still retrieving terday,” said Ahmad Khanneighborhood to the govern- see what happens,” Trump bodies Tuesday from the sour, a media activist who ment one week ago followsaid. “Iran has not been treatbasement of a school that spoke to The Associated ing a protracted siege. More ing that part of the world, or was bombed by government Press from a basement in than 1,000 rebels and their the world itself, approprior Russian jets Monday, a the town. He reported 175 families elected to leave the ately. A lot of bad things are spokesman for the Syrian strikes on the town since neighborhood for rebel-held happening in Iran.”
Civil Defense group said. Monday evening. territory in the north of the Prince Mohammed dodged
The bodies of 20 women Turkish President Recep country, instead of submita shouted question on the and children have been Tayyip Erdogan has called on ting to the government. Iran deal, but waxed optiretrieved from the rubble, the United States to “show The Observatory said that mistic about prospects for said the group, also known respect” and “walk with” along with the 36 troops closer economic ties amid as the White Helmets. The its NATO ally. His remarks killed, dozens more were “new waves of opportunities school, in Arbin, a town in are the latest criticism by wounded or captured in the in different areas.” eastern Ghouta, was being the Turkish leader of Wash- clashes with IS militants in “The opportunities are very used as a shelter by residents, ington over its engagement Qadam. The Islamic State huge,” Mohammed said in said the Observatory. with Syrian Kurdish militia. group last year lost the conEnglish.
Oways al-Shami said conErdogan’s comments Tuestiguous stretch of territory it In a major Saudi shakeup tinued bombing was slow- day came in reply to statecontrolled in eastern Syria last year, Mohammed pushed ing down rescue operations. ments from the U.S. State since 2014 — and where it aside his older and more expe-
“They’re not able to use Department expressing con- had proclaimed its self-styled rienced cousin to become their heavy vehicles because cern over Turkey’s cross-bor“caliphate” — but pockets first-in-line to his father’s the planes are targeting the der offensive in the northand smaller areas of control throne, setting himself up Civil Defense directly,” said western Syrian enclave of remain across Syria. to control Saudi policy for decades to come. Trump Apple Inc. in San Francisco, embraced the move, telling and entertainment bigwigs Mohammed that “some trein Los Angeles. Other stops mendous things have hapinclude Boston and Houston. pened” since he last visited “This is not the real Saudi the White House. Arabia,” Mohammed said
“Your father made a very recently about the repressive wise decision,” Trump said. version of Islam many outsid
While in Washington, the ers associate with the kingcrown prince will hold meetdom. He said he was restoring ings with a long roster of influthe more tolerant, egalitarian ential U.S. officials, including society that existed before the secretaries of defense, trea- Saudi Arabia’s ultraconsersury and commerce, the CIA vatives were empowered in chief and congressional leaders 1979. He told CBS News: “We from both parties. Trump sonwere victims, especially my in-law Jared Kushner and White generation that suffered from House envoy Jared Greenblatt, this a great deal.” who are drafting Trump’s longIt’s a message that has awaited Mideast peace plan, earned Prince Mohammed were also joining the crown admirers in the United States, prince for dinner Tuesday, as he allowed women to drive the Saudi Embassy in Wash- and opened movie theaters ington said. shuttered since the 1980s. The
The visit comes as the crown prince is turning “Saudi United States and much of Arabia into a normal country the West are still trying to figin which normal people lead ure out Prince Mohammed, normal lives,” Saudi Foreign whose sweeping program of Minister Adel al-Jubeir told social changes at home and reporters ahead of the visit. increased Saudi assertiveYet Democrats and Republiness abroad has upended cans have approached some of decades of traditional rule in the crown prince’s other bold Saudi Arabia. The 32-year-old steps with trepidation, particcrown prince also has big eco- ularly in the broader Middle nomic plans, and over three East. One bill in Congress proweeks in the U.S. he will meet poses scaling back U.S. milibusinessmen in New York, tary assistance to a Saudi-led tech mavens from Google and coalition fighting in Yemen.