The United Nations Security Council has formally lifted sanctions on Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, paving the way for his upcoming meeting with US President Donald Trump at the White House on Monday.
In a resolution drafted by the United States and adopted on Thursday, sanctions were also removed from Syrian Interior Minister Anas Khattab. The measure received 14 votes in favor, with China choosing to abstain. Washington had been pressing the 15-member Council for months to ease restrictions on Syria. President Trump signaled the policy shift in May, announcing his intention to lift US sanctions on the country.
The decision follows significant changes in Syria’s political landscape. After 13 years of civil war, long-time leader Bashar al-Assad was ousted in December in a swift offensive by insurgent forces led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), an Islamist group. Previously known as the Nusra Front, HTS was once al Qaeda’s branch in Syria before formally cutting ties in 2016. The group has remained on the UN’s sanctions list for al Qaeda and Islamic State since 2014, with many of its members still facing travel bans, asset freezes, and arms embargoes.
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