đź”— Share this article UN Lifts Sanctions on President of Syria Ahead of Presidential Visit United Nations Security Council members gave the green light to a United States-backed measure ending penalties on President Ahmed al-Sharaa of Syria ahead of his White House visit the coming week. He was appointed provisional head of state following his leadership in a rebel offensive that removed Bashar al-Assad in the final month of 2024, concluding thirteen long years of internal conflict. America's diplomat Mike Waltz at the United Nations said the UN had sent "an emphatic political statement" that acknowledged Syria entered "a fresh chapter" since Assad was deposed. He had been subject to global penalties as the leader of the Islamist group the HTS movement, previously associated with the extremist organization. The US removed HTS from a list of global extremist entities this past July. Further Restrictions Lifted Additionally, the United Nations lifted restrictions targeting Syria's Interior Minister the interior minister. The Syrian diplomatic chief welcomed the removal of the sanctions, stating online: "The nation shows its gratitude to Washington and supportive states for assisting the country and its population." Forthcoming Presidential Visit Sharaa's White House visit on Monday comes after American leader Donald Trump stated the Middle Eastern president had made "good progress" in establishing peace to the previously divided state. Following their discussion, Trump remarked the Syrian leader possessed "a genuine opportunity to unify the country". The pair met on their first occasion this past May, when Trump visited Riyadh while traveling through Arab nations. After that meeting, the US president described him as a "resilient figure" with a "very strong past". His Islamist group HTS operated as the terrorist network's partner within Syria before he cut connections during 2016. Previous US Visit The upcoming meeting will not be the president's debut journey to the United States during this period. In September, he made history as the initial Syrian president to speak before the United Nations gathering in New York in almost 60 years. Throughout his presentation, he said Syria was "restoring its proper position within the global community" and expressed solidarity toward Gaza's residents. President Sharaa speaks before global body on historic occasion following approximately sixty years Trump's meeting with the Syrian leader, unthinkable just months ago, enhances Syrian aspirations