The United Nations Security Council has voted to lift sanctions on Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa and Interior Minister Anas Khattab, marking a significant diplomatic shift after years of restrictions. The US-drafted resolution received 14 votes in favor, with China abstaining, signaling broad international support for re-engagement with Damascus. The move comes just days before Sharaa’s scheduled meeting with US President Donald Trump at the White House, highlighting Washington’s renewed willingness to normalize relations with Syria.
The United States has been pushing for months to ease sanctions, which were imposed during Syria’s prolonged civil war. President Trump earlier announced that the US would lift its own sanctions, citing the need to give Syria “a fighting shot” at recovery. He praised Sharaa as a “tough leader in a tough neighborhood,” emphasizing that progress had been made toward restoring stability in the war-torn country. The resolution’s adoption is seen as a major step in Washington’s evolving Middle East policy.
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Syria’s political landscape changed dramatically last December when long-time ruler Bashar al-Assad was ousted in a lightning offensive by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), an Islamist faction that once had ties to al-Qaeda. The UN confirmed that sanctions monitors have found no active links between HTS and al-Qaeda this year. The Security Council’s decision to delist Sharaa and Khattab reflects a growing belief that Syria’s leadership transition and reduced extremist presence have created conditions for cautious international engagement.
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China, however, abstained from the vote, citing security concerns and the unresolved threat posed by foreign terrorist fighters, including members of the Eastern Turkistan Islamic Movement (ETIM). Beijing’s ambassador, Fu Cong, urged Syria to take “decisive action” against terrorism, particularly groups linked to Uyghur militants from China’s Xinjiang region. Despite its reservations, China acknowledged that the resolution included language recognizing Syria’s responsibility to strengthen counterterrorism efforts and ensure regional stability.
Russia’s ambassador, Vassily Nebenzia, backed the resolution, calling it a step that “reflects the aspirations of the Syrian people.” Moscow, which had long shielded Assad during the war, hailed the new leadership’s efforts to restore order and rebuild. Syria’s UN envoy, Ibrahim Olabi, welcomed the vote as “a message of hope and partnership,” saying the new government is committed to rebuilding the country through “mutual respect and constructive cooperation.” The lifting of sanctions marks a new chapter for Syria as it seeks to rejoin the international community after more than a decade of isolation.