🔗 Share this article

United Nations Security Council members voted in favour to a US resolution removing restrictions on Syria's leader Ahmed al-Sharaa prior to his presidential meeting the following week.

Sharaa was named interim leader after leading a revolutionary movement that drove out the former president in December 2024, bringing to a close thirteen long years of civil war.

Washington's ambassador Mike Waltz at the United Nations declared the global body transmitted "a powerful diplomatic message" that recognised Syria was in "a new era" after Assad's removal.

Sharaa was under United Nations restrictions while commanding the religious organization the HTS movement, once connected to the terrorist network. The US removed the group from its registry of foreign terror groups in July.

Further Restrictions Lifted

Furthermore, global sanctions were ended on sanctions on Syrian Interior Minister Minister Anas Khattab.

The Syrian diplomatic chief applauded the lifting of the penalties, stating online: "Syria expresses its appreciation to the United States and to friendly nations for assisting of Syria and its people."

Forthcoming Presidential Visit

The Syrian leader's Washington trip on Monday follows American leader Donald Trump remarked that Sharaa had made "good progress" towards bringing peace to the previously divided state.

The two leaders convened initially in May, during Trump's Riyadh trip on a tour of Arab nations.

Subsequent to that discussion, the US president described the Syrian as a "strong individual" with a "very strong past".

The HTS organization he led served as al-Qaeda's branch inside the country before he cut connections back in 2016.

Previous US Visit

Monday's visit is not his initial visit to the United States in the current year. This past fall, he made history as the initial Syrian president to speak before the global assembly in Manhattan in almost 60 years.

Throughout his presentation, he said Syria was "regaining its deserved status within the global community" and demonstrated unity toward Gaza's residents.

• President Sharaa presents to international community initially following approximately sixty years
• The presidential discussion with Sharaa, previously unimaginable, elevates national expectations