UN Security Council Lifts Sanctions on Syrian Leader

The United Nations Security Council made a nearly unanimous decision on Thursday to lift sanctions on Syrian President Ahmed al-Shara, previously affiliated with al-Qaeda and the leader of the jihadist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) before taking control of Damascus.

The United States put forth a resolution aimed at ending sanctions on Sharaa and Interior Minister Anas Khattab, both part of an anti-government jihadist faction that opposed the former dictator Bashar al-Assad during Syria’s decade-long civil war. HTS gained control over Aleppo in November 2024, marking a pivotal moment when Assad attempted to strengthen his rule. By December 7, he was on a flight to exile in Moscow.

Sharaa, who is known by his alias “Abu Mohammed al-Jolani,” took office as president under his real name and quickly embraced a Western style, participating in global financial conferences to seek funding for Syria’s reconstruction. Still, his ambitions appear to include establishing an Islamic state, particularly after Syria adopted an Islamic constitution in March following a massacre of Shiite Alawite civilians linked to the new government.

Currently, he is in Belem, Brazil, for the United Nations Climate Change Summit COP30.

The resolution to lift sanctions was well-received by the Security Council, where 15 of the 15 members voted for it, except for China, which abstained. However, the United States expressed concerns that it had overridden differing opinions within the Council to push its own political agenda.

China’s Communist Party has historically shown mild support for the Assad regime, enduring for 50 years, including Hafez al-Assad’s long rule. Meanwhile, Russia, another prominent supporter of Assad, voted in favor of lifting sanctions, emphasizing the need to inject funds into Syria’s recovery. Russia also offered political asylum to Assad and actively engaged in diplomatic efforts, with Sharaa meeting President Vladimir Putin in Moscow last October.

This sanction relief aligns with Sharaa’s upcoming visit to the White House on Monday. President Donald Trump has openly supported Sharaa, referring to him as a “young, attractive man” who has a talent for uniting people.

Reports suggest that during his visit, Sharaa will engage with the coalition against the Islamic State. Notably, both HTS and ISIS are Sunni jihadist groups, but their focuses differ, with HTS primarily targeting the Assad regime while ISIS sought to expand territory for its so-called “caliphate.”

While attending COP30, Sharaa met with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. He previously met Guterres during the United Nations General Assembly in September, becoming the first Syrian leader to address that forum in over half a century. In both appearances, he called for global investments for Syria’s reconstruction and urged countries to lift sanctions aimed at the now-defunct Assad regime.

“We now call for the complete lifting of sanctions so that they no longer constrain the Syrian people,” he asserted in front of the General Assembly. Additionally, he noted that changes in the investment law have already attracted major companies to invest in Syria.

In a recent interview on Al-Sharq TV at COP30, Sharaa remarked on the “birth of a new Syria.” While expressing his desire to enhance U.S.-Syria relations, he acknowledged that trust needs to be built through concrete actions. He stated, “Syria’s position is delicate and it is beginning to regain its regional and global role,” emphasizing the mutual interests of countries in fostering strategic relations with Syria.

In a speech at the Future Investment Initiative conference in Saudi Arabia, he claimed that Syria has welcomed $28 billion in investments in recent months and expressed determination to rebuild the nation with local investments rather than relying solely on aid.