In brief
The UN has voted to lift sanctions on Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa ahead of his important White House visit. This decision was officially backed by the U.S., marking a significant shift in the international stance towards Syria since the ousting of Bashar al-Assad. Al-Sharaa is slated to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump, following their earlier meeting in May, where both leaders expressed optimism about the future of Syria post-civil war.
The UN Security Council has voted in favour of a US resolution to lift sanctions on Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa ahead of his White House visit next week.
Sharaa was named transitional president after leading a rebel offensive that ousted Bashar al-Assad in December 2024, ending 13 years of civil war.
Washington's ambassador to the UN, Mike Waltz, stated that the UN had sent a strong political signal acknowledging the new era in Syria since the removal of Assad.
Previously under sanctions as the leader of the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which was linked to al-Qaeda, Sharaa's group has since been removed from the list of foreign terrorist organizations by the U.S. this July.
The UN also lifted sanctions on Syrian Interior Minister Anas Khattab, which was welcomed by Syria's foreign minister who expressed gratitude on social media for support from the U.S. and allied nations.
Sharaa's upcoming meeting with President Trump on Monday is significant, showing progress in diplomatic relations. Trump commented that Sharaa has made good progress towards peace while reflecting on their previous meeting in May, where he praised Sharaa as a tough guy with a strong background.
In September, Sharaa made headlines for being the first Syrian leader to address the UN General Assembly in nearly 60 years, emphasizing Syria’s desire to regain its position in the global community.
