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United Nations Security Council members voted in favour to a United States-backed measure removing restrictions on Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa prior to his presidential meeting the following week.

He became interim leader subsequent to commanding an insurgent campaign that removed the previous leader in winter 2024, concluding thirteen long years of internal conflict.

Washington's ambassador Mike Waltz at the United Nations said the UN had sent "an emphatic political statement" that acknowledged Syria entered "a new era" since Assad was deposed.

Sharaa was under global penalties as the leader of the religious organization the HTS movement, which was formerly linked to al-Qaeda. America delisted HTS from a list of foreign terror groups in July.

Additional Sanctions Relief

Additionally, the United Nations lifted penalties against the Syrian interior official Anas Khattab.

The Syrian diplomatic chief expressed satisfaction with the elimination of the penalties, posting on social media: "Syria expresses its appreciation to the United States and supportive states for backing of Syria and its people."

Upcoming White House Meeting

The Syrian leader's Washington trip at the start of the week occurs subsequent to US President Donald Trump stated the Middle Eastern president had made "good progress" working toward stability to the previously divided state.

Both presidents held discussions initially during May, when Trump visited Riyadh during a visit to the region.

Following that encounter, Trump portrayed the Syrian as a "strong individual" having a "formative history".

His former militant faction operated as the terrorist network's partner within Syria prior to breaking relations in 2016.

Previous US Visit

This week's diplomatic engagement will not be his initial visit to the United States this year. During September, he made history as the first Syrian leader to speak before the UN General Assembly in Manhattan for nearly six decades.

Throughout his presentation, he declared the nation was "regaining its deserved status among the nations of the world" while showing support with Palestinian citizens in Gaza.

• The Middle Eastern president addresses UN General Assembly initially after nearly six decades
• The high-level talks with Sharaa, unthinkable just months ago, enhances Syrian aspirations