, the UN Security Council voted in favor of a U.S.-backed resolution to lift sanctions on Syrian President Ahmad Al-Sharaa ahead of his upcoming visit to the White House next week. The Syrian Foreign Ministry expressed its “gratitude” to the United States for its support of Syria and its people.
The resolution, supported by 14 council members with China abstaining, stated:
“The Council has decided to delist Ahmad Al-Sharaa and Interior Minister Anas Hasan Khattab from the sanctions list targeting individuals and groups linked to ISIS and Al-Qaeda.”
U.S. Ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz welcomed the decision, saying:
“With the adoption of this text, the Council has sent a strong political message that Syria has entered a new era.”
China’s representative, Fu Cong, voiced concern over the presence of “foreign terrorist fighters” in Syria who could exploit the “fragile security situation” and regretted that the Council had not fully assessed the situation.
Following the vote, Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Al-Shibani posted on the platform. X:
> “Syria expresses its appreciation to the United States and friendly nations for their support of Syria and its people,”
emphasizing that Syrian diplomacy continues to demonstrate its “active presence and ability to make steady progress in removing obstacles and paving the way toward a more open and stable Syrian future.”
The lifting of sanctions on Al-Sharaa is largely symbolic, as similar waivers were routinely granted for his international travel as head of state. The move also lifts asset freezes and arms embargoes.
President Donald Trump is scheduled to host Al-Sharaa on November 10 for talks. Trump previously stated that the former jihadist had made “good progress” toward peace in his war-torn country.
Although this will be Al-Sharaa’s first visit to Washington, it will be his second trip to the U.S., following a historic speech at the UN General Assembly in New York last September—making him the first Syrian president in decades to address the assembly.
In May, Al-Sharaa—whose forces ousted former President Bashar Al-Assad late last year—met Trump for the first time in Riyadh during the U.S. president’s regional tour.
In July, Washington removed Al-Sharaa’s armed group, Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham, from its list of terrorist organizations.
Damascus announced Sunday that the Syrian president’s agenda in Washington will include discussions on lifting remaining sanctions, reconstruction efforts, and counterterrorism.
Trump has expressed hope that Syria will join other Arab nations in normalizing relations with Israel under the Abraham Accords.