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The UN Security Council voted in favour to a United States-backed measure ending penalties on Syria's leader Ahmed al-Sharaa ahead of his Washington trip next week.

He was appointed transitional president subsequent to commanding a revolutionary movement that ousted Bashar al-Assad in December 2024, bringing to a close 13 years of internal conflict.

Washington's ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz stated the United Nations delivered "a powerful diplomatic message" that recognised Syria was in "a new era" after Assad's removal.

Previously, he faced United Nations restrictions in his role as head of the Muslim faction the HTS movement, which was formerly linked to al-Qaeda. America delisted the organization from the catalog of international terrorist organizations this past July.

Further Restrictions Lifted

Additionally, the United Nations lifted restrictions targeting Syria's Interior Minister Minister Anas Khattab.

The Syrian diplomatic chief welcomed the removal of the sanctions, stating online: "Syria expresses its appreciation to the United States and allied countries for backing the Syrian nation and citizens."

Upcoming White House Meeting

The Syrian leader's Washington trip at the start of the week comes after American leader Donald Trump stated the Middle Eastern president achieved "significant advancement" in establishing peace to the previously divided state.

The pair met on their first occasion during May, during Trump's Riyadh trip on a tour of the Middle East.

After that meeting, the US president described him as a "resilient figure" with a "very strong past".

His former militant faction operated as the terrorist network's partner within Syria before he cut connections during 2016.

Earlier American Trip

This week's diplomatic engagement does not represent Sharaa's first trip to America during this period. This past fall, he made history as the first Syrian leader to address the United Nations gathering in New York for nearly six decades.

In his speech, he declared the nation was "regaining its deserved status within the global community" while showing support with Palestinian citizens in Gaza.

• Syrian leader presents to international community for first time following approximately sixty years
• The high-level talks with the Syrian leader, once considered impossible, elevates national expectations