UN Lifts Sanctions on Syrian President Before Presidential Visit
The UN Security Council gave the green light to an American proposal ending penalties on Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa prior to his presidential meeting the following week.
Sharaa was named transitional president following his leadership in a rebel offensive that drove out Bashar al-Assad in the final month of 2024, ending thirteen long years of internal conflict.
The US representative Mike Waltz at the United Nations said the UN had sent "a strong political signal" that recognised Syria was in "a different period" after Assad's removal.
Previously, he faced UN sanctions in his role as head of the religious organization HTS, once connected to al-Qaeda. America delisted the group from its registry of foreign terror groups in July.
More Penalties Removed
The UN also removed sanctions on Syrian Interior Minister the interior minister.
Syria's foreign minister applauded the lifting of the penalties, declaring through digital channels: "The nation shows its gratitude to Washington and allied countries for backing of Syria and its people."
Upcoming White House Meeting
President Sharaa's presidential meeting this coming Monday follows President Trump remarked that Sharaa demonstrated "substantial headway" towards bringing peace to the war-torn country.
The pair met for the first time this past May, during Trump's Riyadh trip while traveling through the region.
Following that encounter, America's leader characterized the Syrian as a "strong individual" possessing a "powerful background".
His Islamist group HTS was al-Qaeda's affiliate inside the country prior to breaking relations during 2016.
Previous US Visit
Monday's visit does not represent Sharaa's first trip to the US during this period. In September, he became the initial Syrian president to address the United Nations gathering in New York for nearly six decades.
During his address, he said Syria was "regaining its deserved status within the global community" and demonstrated unity with Palestinian citizens in Gaza.
- Syrian leader presents to international community on historic occasion after nearly six decades
- The presidential discussion with Sharaa, once considered impossible, boosts Syrians' hopes
