WASHINGTON: The US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has removed Syrian President Ahmed al Sharaa from the list of Specially Designated Global Terrorists (SDGTs), while the Treasury Department simultaneously delisted Syrian Interior Minister Anas Hasan Khattab from the same sanctions regime.
The move follows a UN Security Council resolution, supported by Pakistan and 14 other members, formally lifting UN sanctions against both officials. The delisting ends measures including asset freezes, travel bans, and arms embargoes imposed under the global fight against ISIS and Al Qaeda. China was the only council member to abstain from the vote.
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Pakistan’s UN Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad welcomed the decision, saying it supports Syria’s reconstruction, reintegration into the international community, and political transition after more than a decade of conflict and civil war. The US State Department described the delisting as a recognition of Sharaa’s leadership and progress in counterterrorism, locating missing Americans, and chemical weapons elimination.
The delisting marks a significant policy shift for the US toward Syria. Sharaa and Khattab had long been under sanctions for alleged links to extremist groups and the former Assad regime. Regional powers, including Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, and Qatar, have also supported renewed engagement, offering funding to rebuild infrastructure and assist Syria in meeting international financial obligations.
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