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Security Council representatives voted in favour to a US resolution ending penalties on President Ahmed al-Sharaa of Syria before his White House visit the coming week.

Sharaa was named transitional president after leading a revolutionary movement that removed Bashar al-Assad in the final month of 2024, ending over a decade of domestic strife.

Washington's ambassador Mike Waltz at the United Nations said the UN had sent "a powerful diplomatic message" that acknowledged Syria entered "a different period" following Assad's ouster.

Previously, he faced United Nations restrictions while commanding the religious organization Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), previously associated with the extremist organization. The US removed the organization from the catalog of foreign terror groups in July.

More Penalties Removed

Furthermore, global sanctions were ended on penalties against the Syrian interior official Anas Khattab.

The Syrian diplomatic chief expressed satisfaction with the elimination of these restrictions, posting on social media: "Syrian officials convey thanks to the United States and supportive states for backing of Syria and its people."

Forthcoming Presidential Visit

President Sharaa's presidential meeting at the start of the week follows American leader Donald Trump stated the Middle Eastern president demonstrated "substantial headway" towards bringing peace to the conflict-ravaged nation.

The two leaders convened initially this past May, during Trump's Riyadh trip while traveling through Arab nations.

After that meeting, the US president described him as a "resilient figure" possessing a "powerful background".

His Islamist group HTS served as al-Qaeda's branch inside the country until he severed ties back in 2016.

Earlier American Trip

The upcoming meeting will not be the president's debut journey to the US this year. During September, he became the first Syrian leader to present to the global assembly in Manhattan in almost 60 years.

In his speech, he declared the nation was "reclaiming its rightful place across international circles" and demonstrated unity with Palestinian citizens in Gaza.

• The Middle Eastern president speaks before global body initially following approximately sixty years
• The presidential discussion with Sharaa, unthinkable just months ago, enhances Syrian aspirations