Sanctions on Syria Removed by UN Security Council

The United Nations Security Council has removed sanctions on Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, who is due to meet U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House on Monday. The U.S.-drafted resolution on Thursday also lifted sanctions on Syrian Interior Minister Anas Khattab. It received 14 votes in favor, while China abstained. Washington has been urging the 15-member Security Council for months to ease Syria sanctions. Trump announced a major U.S. policy shift in May when he said he would lift U.S. sanctions on Syria. “I think he’s doing a very good job,” Trump said later on Thursday of Sharaa. “It’s a tough neighborhood, and he’s a tough guy, but I got along with him very well. And a lot of progress has been made with Syria.” We did take the sanctions off Syria in order to give them a fighting shot,” he told reporters in Washington.