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United Nations Security Council members voted in favour to a US resolution to lift sanctions on Syria's leader Ahmed al-Sharaa before 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 December 2024, ending over a decade of civil war.

The US representative Mike Waltz at the United Nations said the UN had sent "a strong political signal" that affirmed Syria's transition into "a different period" since Assad was deposed.

Previously, he faced United Nations restrictions in his role as head of the Muslim faction Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which was formerly linked to al-Qaeda. Washington eliminated the organization from the catalog of foreign terror groups this past July.

Further Restrictions Lifted

The UN also removed penalties against the Syrian interior official the interior minister.

The nation's top diplomat applauded the lifting of these restrictions, posting on social media: "Syria expresses its appreciation toward America and to friendly nations for backing the Syrian nation and citizens."

Imminent Washington Talks

Sharaa's White House visit at the start of the week follows President Trump remarked that Sharaa achieved "significant advancement" working toward stability to the conflict-ravaged nation.

The two leaders convened on their first occasion in May, during Trump's Riyadh trip during a visit to the Middle East.

Subsequent to that discussion, America's leader characterized Sharaa as a "tough guy" with a "very strong past".

His Islamist group HTS operated as the terrorist network's partner in Syria prior to breaking relations in 2016.

Previous US Visit

The upcoming meeting will not be his initial visit to America during this period. This past fall, he emerged as the initial Syrian president to speak before the United Nations gathering in Manhattan for nearly six decades.

Throughout his presentation, he stated the country had been "reclaiming its rightful place across international circles" while showing support toward Gaza's residents.

• The Middle Eastern president addresses UN General Assembly on historic occasion in almost 60 years
• Trump's meeting with Sharaa, once considered impossible, boosts Syrians' hopes