US: Security Council Vote to Remove Names of Al-Sharaa and Khattab from International Sanctions List

SadaNews - A diplomatic source reported that the United States has called for a vote today, Thursday, in the United Nations Security Council to remove the names of Syrian President Ahmad Al-Sharaa and Interior Minister Anas Khattab from the list of international sanctions imposed on ISIS and Al-Qaeda.

The diplomatic source stated that the United States has made some modifications to the text of the draft resolution, particularly regarding foreign fighters.

He clarified that the new text does not address what China has attempted to push for regarding one-year exemptions that would be renewed.

A diplomatic source told Al Jazeera that China has proposed amendments suggesting that foreign fighters be mentioned in the draft resolution.

The source mentioned that the United States has expressed to some council members its desire to vote on the draft resolution before President Al-Sharaa's visit to Washington and his meeting with President Donald Trump next Monday.

Trump announced the lifting of sanctions imposed on Damascus during his speech at the Saudi-American Investment Forum during his visit to Riyadh in mid-May, a move that was welcomed by the Syrian government and Arab countries.

Additionally, the American president held a meeting with the Syrian president in Riyadh the day after announcing the lifting of sanctions on Syria, marking the first such meeting between an American and Syrian president in 25 years.

Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham, formerly known as Jabhat al-Nusra, was the official wing of Al-Qaeda in Syria until its relations were severed in 2016. Since May 2014, the group has been listed on the United Nations sanctions list against Al-Qaeda and ISIS.

Several members of Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham are subject to UN sanctions, including travel bans, asset freezes, and arms embargoes.

The sanctions committee of the Security Council has regularly granted Al-Sharaa travel exemptions this year, so even if the decision drafted by the United States is not adopted before Monday, it is likely that the Syrian president will be able to visit the White House.

Source: Agencies