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The UN Security Council approved to a US resolution ending penalties on Syria's leader Ahmed al-Sharaa before his Washington trip the following week.

He was appointed provisional head of state following his leadership in a rebel offensive that drove out the previous leader in December 2024, bringing to a close 13 years of civil war.

America's diplomat Mike Waltz at the United Nations stated the United Nations delivered "an emphatic political statement" that recognised Syria was in "a new era" following Assad's ouster.

Sharaa was under United Nations restrictions as the leader of the Muslim faction Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which was formerly linked to the terrorist network. The US removed the organization from the catalog of international terrorist organizations this past July.

Additional Sanctions Relief

The UN also removed restrictions targeting Syria's Interior Minister Anas Khattab.

The nation's top diplomat welcomed the removal of the sanctions, declaring through digital channels: "Syria expresses its appreciation to Washington and supportive states for assisting the country and its population."

Forthcoming Presidential Visit

Sharaa's White House visit this coming Monday follows President Trump remarked that Sharaa demonstrated "substantial headway" working toward stability to the war-torn country.

The two leaders convened for the first time this past May, when Trump visited Riyadh on a tour of the region.

Subsequent to that discussion, the US president described him as a "resilient figure" having a "formative history".

His Islamist group HTS operated as the terrorist network's partner within Syria before he cut connections during 2016.

Earlier American Trip

The upcoming meeting does not represent the president's debut journey to the US in the current year. This past fall, he made history as the first Syrian leader to address the United Nations gathering in Manhattan for nearly six decades.

Throughout his presentation, he stated the country had been "restoring its proper position among the nations of the world" and demonstrated unity with the people of Gaza.

• President Sharaa addresses UN General Assembly initially after nearly six decades
• The presidential discussion with the Syrian leader, once considered impossible, boosts Syrians' hopes