The United Nations Security Council has voted to lift sanctions against the transitional President of Syria, Ahmad al-Sara, and Interior Minister Anas Hatab, removing them from the UN sanctions list linked to the terrorist group HTS, which has roots in both ISIS and Al-Qaeda. The resolution was adopted with 14 votes in favor and one abstention (China).
In explaining the U.S. vote, Ambassador Michael Waltz, Permanent Representative of the United States to the UN, said the resolution sends “a strong political message, recognizing that Syria is entering a new era following the overthrow of Assad and his associates in December 2024.”
Waltz highlighted that the new Syrian government under President al-Sara is committed to combating terrorism and drugs, eliminating remaining chemical weapons, and promoting regional security and stability through an inclusive political process. He added, “As President Trump has noted, this is Syria’s opportunity to achieve maximum progress, and the removal of President al-Sara and Minister Hatab from the sanctions list should help the Syrian people fully seize this historic opportunity.”
The Syrian Permanent Representative, Ambassador Ibrahim Olabi, welcomed the Security Council’s decision, calling it “an indication of growing confidence in the new Syria, its people, and its leadership.” Olabi emphasized that “for the first time in many years, the Council has united in favor of Syria and alongside its people.”
Olabi described the resolution as a milestone reflecting “the fruit of positive and continuous engagement with Syria in recent months” and highlighting “the constructive role of the international community in supporting positive developments on the ground.”
The Syrian ambassador stressed that the decision reflects the will of Syrian men and women to rebuild their country based on principles of freedom, dignity, independence, national sovereignty, prosperity, and development. He underlined that Syria’s internal strategy is centered on reconciliation and reconstruction, aiming to build a modern state based on the rule of law and to turn the page on war and suffering.
“The new Syria seeks to be a country of peace and cooperation, not a field of confrontation or settling scores,” Olabi said. He described Damascus’ vision as one extending a hand to all nations, seeking partnerships, business opportunities, and investments, with the ambition of becoming a meeting point uniting East and West under the banner of development and prosperity.
