Syrian President Ahmed Shara arrived in Washington on a two-day official visit after the US officially lifted its designation of him as a global terrorist.

The former Islamist militant is expected to meet Donald Trump at the White House on Monday, 11 months after a coalition of rebels ousted President Bashar al-Assad.

Hours before the president arrived in Washington, D.C., Syrian security forces reportedly captured several members of the Islamic State group.

Joint efforts to control the remaining members of the Islamic State group are expected to be a high point in Shara's talks with President Trump.

Syrian authorities said they had arrested 71 suspected members of the group, along with weapons and incendiary devices.

Since taking office, Shara has been taking various steps to represent Syria on the international stage.

Syria has been isolated from the international community during Assad's 13-year civil war.

President Shara traveled to the United States in September to address the United Nations General Assembly, where he called on world leaders to lift sanctions, saying Syria "will regain its rightful place in the world."