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United Nations Security Council members voted in favour to a United States-backed measure removing restrictions on Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa ahead of his White House visit the coming week.

He became interim leader following his leadership in an insurgent campaign that drove out the previous leader in winter 2024, ending thirteen long years of civil war.

America's diplomat UN ambassador Mike Waltz declared the global body transmitted "a powerful diplomatic message" that recognised Syria was in "a different period" after Assad's removal.

Previously, he faced UN sanctions in his role as head of the religious organization the HTS movement, which was formerly linked to al-Qaeda. America delisted the organization from the catalog of foreign terror groups this past July.

Further Restrictions Lifted

The UN also removed penalties against the Syrian interior official Minister Anas Khattab.

Syria's foreign minister welcomed the removal of the penalties, declaring through digital channels: "Syria expresses its appreciation toward America and to friendly nations for their support of Syria and its people."

Forthcoming Presidential Visit

President Sharaa's presidential meeting on Monday follows US President Donald Trump said the Syrian leader had made "good progress" in establishing peace to the conflict-ravaged nation.

The two leaders convened on their first occasion in May, during Trump's Riyadh trip during a visit to the region.

Following that encounter, America's leader characterized him as a "resilient figure" possessing a "powerful background".

His Islamist group HTS was al-Qaeda's affiliate in Syria until he severed ties in 2016.

Previous US Visit

Monday's visit does not represent Sharaa's first trip to America during this period. In September, he became the pioneering Middle Eastern head of state to present to the UN General Assembly in New York in almost 60 years.

During his address, he declared the nation was "regaining its deserved status within the global community" while showing support with Palestinian citizens in Gaza.

• The Middle Eastern president speaks before global body for first time after nearly six decades
• Trump's meeting with the Syrian leader, previously unimaginable, boosts Syrians' hopes