The UN Security Council has voted in favor 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 that recognized Syria was in a new era since Assad was deposed.
Sharaa had been under UN sanctions as the leader of the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which was formerly linked to al-Qaeda. The US removed HTS from a list of foreign terror groups in July.
The UN also removed sanctions on Syrian Interior Minister Anas Khattab.
Syria's foreign minister welcomed the removal of the sanctions, expressing gratitude to the United States and other supportive nations for their backing of Syria and its people.
Sharaa's White House visit on Monday follows US President Donald Trump's comments that the Syrian leader had made good progress towards bringing peace to the war-torn country.
This meeting marks a significant moment, with Sharaa having addressed the UN General Assembly in September, becoming the first Syrian leader to do so in nearly 60 years. In his speech, he declared that Syria was reclaiming its rightful place among the nations of the world and expressed solidarity with the people of Gaza.
