Syria's leader set to visit Berlin with deportations in focus

On his first visit to Germany since ousting Syria's longtime leader Bashar al-Assad, Sharaa is also set to meet President Frank-Walter Steinmeier. The former Islamist rebel chief has made frequent overseas trips as he undergoes a rapid reinvention, including to the United States and France, and a series of international sanctions on Syria have been lifted. The focus of next week's visit for the German government will be on stepping up repatriations of Syrians, a priority for Merz's conservative-led coalition since Assad was toppled.