By Erin Banco, Humeyra Pamuk and Daphne Psaledakis NEW YORK/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - When President Donald Trump announced in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday that he would lift all sanctions on Syria, the decision - which will boost a country devastated by 13 years of war - took many in the region by surprise.

The sanctions were really crippling,” President Trump said, before he traveled to Qatar, where he was given a lavish welcome.

Trump urged Sharaa to normalize relations with Israel and help defeat Islamic State, the White House said.