Thursday, October 6, the UN Security Council voted to lift sanctions on Syrian President Ahmad Sharaa and Interior Minister Anas Khattab, clearing the way for a landmark visit to Washington next week. The move marks a dramatic turn in Syria’s international standing less than a year after the fall of former ruler Bashar Assad.
A Shift in Policy at the UN
The 15-member council approved Resolution 2799, drafted by the US, with 14 votes in favor and China abstaining. The resolution removes Sharaa and Khattab from UN sanctions lists that had tied them to Al-Qaida and ISIS since 2014.
“With the adoption of this text, the council is sending a strong political signal that recognizes Syria is in a new era since Assad and his associates were toppled,” said US Ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz in remarks after the vote.
Beijing’s envoy Fu Cong defended China’s abstention, saying the measure “did not sufficiently address the legitimate security concerns of all parties.” Still, the absence of objections allowed the resolution to pass, opening the door to closer engagement between Syria and the West.
Coordinated Moves in Washington and London
Hours after the vote, the US Treasury Department confirmed that it had also removed Sharaa and Khattab from its sanctions list. The update, posted Friday on the department’s website, followed similar announcements from London, where the British government lifted financial and travel restrictions on both men.
An EU spokesperson told Reuters that the UN decision “will be reflected in European measures,” signaling that Brussels intends to follow suit. The spokesperson said the bloc “remains committed to supporting a peaceful and inclusive Syrian-led transition process.”
President Trump welcomed the UN action, calling Sharaa “a strong man” who “is doing a very good job.” Speaking Thursday evening at the White House, Trump said the decision came after consultations with Turkey and Israel, both of which supported easing sanctions to encourage Syria’s reengagement in regional diplomacy.
Syria Welcomes International Recognition
Syria’s foreign ministry praised the resolution, calling it “a victory for Syrian diplomacy.” In a statement on the social media platform X, the ministry said the decision “reflects the growing confidence in President Sharaa’s leadership” and “reaffirms the international community’s recognition of Syria’s pivotal role in the region.”
Syria’s permanent representative to the UN, Ibrahim Olabi, described the vote as “a rare moment of unity in the Security Council in support of Syria and its people.” He said the decision showed that “Syria today is a state of peace and partnership, not an arena for conflict.”
A Historic Visit to Washington
Sharaa is scheduled to meet Trump at the White House on Monday, marking the first official visit by a Syrian president to the US since Syria gained independence in 1946. According to White House officials, the two leaders are expected to discuss Syria’s entry into the US-led coalition against the ISIS and possible reconstruction assistance.
“The Syrian president’s visit represents a new chapter in US-Syrian relations,” US envoy to Syria Tom Barrack told Axios earlier this week. The Security Council’s decision, combined with coordinated steps from Washington, London, and the EU, signals a broad international effort to reestablish ties with Damascus and end more than a decade of isolation following Syria’s civil war.
