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The UN Security Council has voted to lift sanctions against Syrian President Ahmed al‑Sharaa and Interior Minister Anas Khattab under a US-drafted resolution approved on Thursday by 14 members, with China abstaining. According to the resolution, the asset freezes and travel bans imposed on the two officials were removed as part of a broader recalibration of Syria’s international standing following the collapse of the previous regime. The move is seen as symbolic of a shift in diplomatic strategy after more than a decade of civil war. The sanctions had been in place since the earlier regime’s links to terrorism and conflict. A UN monitoring report noted this year that there were no “active ties” between the militant group Hayat Tahrir al‑Sham (HTS) and al‑Qaeda, a key benchmark cited by member states. The US ambassador to the UN described the vote as “sending a strong political signal” recognising that Syria has entered a “new era”. Russia supported the resolution, saying it best reflected the “interests and aspirations of the Syrian people themselves”. China, meanwhile, abstained, citing concerns that the resolution did not sufficiently address counter-terrorism threats, including the presence of Uyghur fighters linked to the Eastern Turkistan Islamic Movement. Syrian UN Ambassador Ibrahim Olabi welcomed the decision, calling it a sign of support for Syria’s rebuilding efforts and, in his words, a message of hope for the “women and men” striving to restore their homeland. While the lifting of these sanctions does not immediately remove other sectoral or arms-related restrictions, the decision marks a significant step in Syria’s re-engagement with the world and signals increased diplomatic normalisation ahead of scheduled high-level talks. -Inputs from Reuters
