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United Nations Security Council members approved to a United States-backed measure ending penalties on Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa ahead of his White House visit next week.

Sharaa was named transitional president following his leadership in an insurgent campaign that drove out Bashar al-Assad in the final month of 2024, bringing to a close thirteen long years of internal conflict.

Washington's ambassador UN ambassador Mike Waltz declared the global body transmitted "a strong political signal" that recognised Syria was in "a new era" following Assad's ouster.

Previously, he faced United Nations restrictions in his role as head of the Islamist group the HTS movement, which was formerly linked to al-Qaeda. The US removed the organization from the catalog of global extremist entities during July.

Additional Sanctions Relief

Furthermore, global sanctions were ended on restrictions targeting Syria's Interior Minister Minister Anas Khattab.

The Syrian diplomatic chief welcomed the removal of the penalties, declaring through digital channels: "The nation shows its gratitude to the United States and supportive states for assisting of Syria and its people."

Upcoming White House Meeting

Sharaa's White House visit this coming Monday comes after American leader Donald Trump stated the Middle Eastern president had made "good progress" towards bringing peace to the conflict-ravaged nation.

The two leaders convened initially this past May, when Trump visited Riyadh while traveling through the region.

Subsequent to that discussion, the US president described Sharaa as a "tough guy" having a "formative history".

His former militant faction served as al-Qaeda's branch within Syria prior to breaking relations during 2016.

Previous US Visit

This week's diplomatic engagement is not Sharaa's first trip to the US during this period. In September, he emerged as the first Syrian leader to speak before the UN General Assembly in Manhattan after approximately sixty years.

Throughout his presentation, he stated the country had been "regaining its deserved status within the global community" while showing support toward Gaza's residents.

• The Middle Eastern president presents to international community initially following approximately sixty years
• The presidential discussion with the Syrian leader, unthinkable just months ago, boosts Syrians' hopes