The UN Security Council voted 14‑0 (China abstained) to delist Syrian President Ahmed al‑Sharaa and Interior Minister Anas Khattab from ISIL/al‑Qaeda sanctions, also lifting an assets freeze and an arms embargo. Diplomats called the move largely symbolic because waivers had often allowed al‑Sharaa to travel while serving as head of state. The change clears a diplomatic path ahead of al‑Sharaa’s scheduled Washington visit, but the US still faces congressional hurdles to repeal the 2019 Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act. Senators from both parties urged Congress to act to facilitate reconstruction and stability in Syria.
UN Security Council Delists Syria’s al‑Sharaa, Lifts Assets Freeze and Arms Embargo Ahead of Washington Visit
The UN Security Council voted 14‑0 (China abstained) to delist Syrian President Ahmed al‑Sharaa and Interior Minister Anas Khattab from ISIL/al‑Qaeda sanctions, also lifting an assets freeze and an arms embargo. Diplomats called the move largely symbolic because waivers had often allowed al‑Sharaa to travel while serving as head of state. The change clears a diplomatic path ahead of al‑Sharaa’s scheduled Washington visit, but the US still faces congressional hurdles to repeal the 2019 Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act. Senators from both parties urged Congress to act to facilitate reconstruction and stability in Syria.
12:45, 07.11.2025Politics
UN Security Council Removes Sanctions on Syrian Leaders Ahead of Washington Trip
The United Nations Security Council voted to remove Syrian President Ahmed al‑Sharaa and Interior Minister Anas Khattab from the UN sanctions list tied to ISIL (ISIS) and al‑Qaeda, approving the resolution by 14 votes to 0, with China abstaining. The vote also lifts an assets freeze and an arms embargo that had applied to the officials.
Diplomats characterized the move as largely symbolic: waivers had routinely allowed al‑Sharaa to travel abroad in his capacity as Syria’s head of state, and the formal delisting mostly removes a technical barrier ahead of his planned visit to Washington next week.
How the Change Came About
Al‑Sharaa rose to power after leading opposition forces that overthrew President Bashar al‑Assad’s government in December. His group, Hayat Tahrir al‑Sham (HTS), launched an offensive on 27 November 2024 and reached Damascus within 12 days, ending the al‑Assad family’s 53‑year rule.
HTS had been on the UN Security Council’s ISIL and al‑Qaeda sanctions list since May 2014. Since assuming office, al‑Sharaa has urged the United States and other international actors to formally lift sanctions on Syria, arguing that measures targeting the previous leadership are no longer justified.
US Response and Remaining Hurdles
In May, US President Donald Trump met al‑Sharaa in Riyadh and ordered most US sanctions to be lifted. However, the most stringent US restrictions — enacted by Congress under the 2019 Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act — remain in place and would require congressional action for permanent repeal.
Bi‑partisan message: Senators Jim Risch and Jeanne Shaheen, the top Republican and Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, welcomed the UN decision and said they are working with the administration and colleagues in Congress to repeal the Caesar sanctions. “It’s time to prioritize reconstruction, stability, and a path forward rather than isolation that only deepens hardship for Syrians,” they said.
Al‑Sharaa is due to meet President Trump in Washington next week — the first visit by a Syrian head of state to the US capital since Syria’s independence in 1946. While formal hostilities between Israel and Syria persist and Israel continues to occupy the Golan Heights, President Trump has expressed hope that the two countries could eventually normalise relations.
Context: The delisting reflects a shift in international posture toward the new Syrian leadership but leaves major economic and legislative hurdles — particularly in the US — that will determine how fully Syria is reintegrated into global political and economic systems.