Security Council lifts sanctions on Syria's interim president

(CLO) The United Nations Security Council has passed a US-proposed resolution to lift sanctions against Syrian interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa.

On November 6, the UN Security Council Resolution, adopted with the support of 14 members, stated: "The Security Council decided to remove Syrian Interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa and Interior Minister Anas Hasan Khattab from the ISIL and Al-Qaeda Sanctions Lists".

The lifting of sanctions on interim President Sharaa is largely symbolic, as he already enjoys diplomatic immunity whenever he travels abroad as head of state. Asset freezes and an arms embargo will also be lifted.

Syrian interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa and US President Donald Trump.

China, one of the five permanent members with veto power, abstained. China's UN Ambassador Fu Tong said Beijing "expressed legitimate concerns" about counterterrorism issues, especially foreign terrorism in Syria, and made several proposed amendments.

Reacting to the vote results, Syrian officials expressed their welcome. Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani said: "Syria thanks the United States and friendly countries for their support for our country and our people."

The move comes ahead of interim President Sharaa's visit to the United States, scheduled for November 10, where he will meet President Donald Trump at the White House. This will be Sharaa's first high-level visit to Washington, and his second to the United States after a trip to the UN headquarters in New York in September.

The two sides are expected to discuss a number of important issues, including the lifting of remaining sanctions on Syria, the country's reconstruction and counter-terrorism strategy.

Mr Sharaa came to power in December 2024, after a rebel alliance led by his Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) toppled the regime of former President Bashar al-Assad. Syria's new leaders are trying to project the image of a moderate government .

HTS, which had links to al-Qaeda, was removed from the US terrorist list in July. Sharaa had previously met with President Trump in Saudi Arabia, and a week later he met with French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris during his first trip to the West.

Source: https://congluan.vn/hoi-dong-bao-an-do-bo-lenh-trung-phat-doi-voi-tong-thong-lam-thoi-syria-10316960.html