The United States has submitted a resolution to the UN Security Council proposing to lift sanctions against Ahmad Al-Sharaa, the leader of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) which currently governs Syria. According to Reuters, citing a copy of the resolution, the US proposal also includes lifting sanctions against Syria’s Interior Minister Anas Khattab. The resolution would require the support of at least nine countries to pass, provided Russia, China, the United Kingdom, and France do not use their veto power.
The United States has been pushing for months to lift sanctions against Syria in the 15-member UN Security Council. This resolution comes as US President Donald Trump is scheduled to meet with Al-Sharaa at the White House next Monday. HTS overthrew former President Bashar al-Assad in a military coup on December 8, 2024. HTS was previously known as the Al-Nusra Front, a group with ties to the terrorist organization Al-Qaeda. However, Al-Nusra Front severed its ties with Al-Qaeda in 2016.
Both Al-Sharaa and Khattab were among the HTS leaders sanctioned by the UN due to these connections. However, since HTS came to power, the UN has already eased travel restrictions against Al-Sharaa. Therefore, even if the resolution is delayed, it is not expected that Al-Sharaa will face any obstacles traveling to the United States next Monday. In July, the United States removed HTS from its list of designated terrorist organizations and has been working to have the UN lift its sanctions as well.
With the United States lifting harsh sanctions against Syria, Syria now has the opportunity to rejoin the international financial system. This has paved the way for ending Syria’s isolation in the international arena.
