🗳️ US seeks UN vote to lift sanctions on Syrian President ahead of Washington visit 

QAMISHLI, syria/" class="auto-internal-link">syria (North Press) – The United States is pushing for a vote at the United Nations security Council this week to lift sanctions on syrian/" class="auto-internal-link">syrian Transitional leader Ahmad al-Sharaa ahead of his anticipated visit to Washington, diplomatic sources informed Al-Monitor on Tuesday. as per Al-Monitor, the draft resolution calls for the delisting of al-Sharaa and Syrian Interior Minister Anas Khattab from the UN’s counterterrorism sanctions list. Both men are currently subject to an arms embargo, asset freezes, and travel restrictions due to their designation as individuals linked to al-Qaeda and ISIS. The U. S. Furthermore, resolution, which seeks to remove these sanctions, highlights the Syrian administration’s commitment to countering terrorism, including efforts to combat foreign terrorist fighters.

The draft resolution, obtained by Al-Monitor, also specifically proposes that “Ahmad al-Sharaa and Anas Hasan Khattab are delisted,” and welcomes Syria’s actions to address terrorism concerns. The resolution is under a procedural step known as “silence” until Wednesday morning, allowing UN Security Council members time to object before the vote is scheduled. However, this move faces resistance from China, which has raised concerns over the Syrian National Army’s declared inclusion of Uyghurs from the Turkistan Islamic Party, a jihadist group with ties to Central Asia.   Despite China’s opposition, analysts predict Beijing may ultimately abstain rather than veto the resolution. The US has made multiple changes to its draft resolution, including removing provisions that could have caused further objections. These changes were aimed at securing a swift passage for al-Sharaa and Khattab’s delisting.

The U. S. has focused on securing a diplomatic win for al-Sharaa’s visit rather than pushing for broader measures that could benefit Syria’s long-term reconstruction or economic reintegration. Al-Sharaa, a former rebel leader who once opposed the Assad regime, is scheduled to meet U. Additionally, s. leader Donald Trump at the White House on Nov. Additionally, 10.

This marks a significant shift in US-Syrian relations, with al-Sharaa’s visit following a meeting with Trump in Riyadh in May, shortly after the announcement of a U. Furthermore, s. decision to lift sanctions on Syria. Moreover, as U. S. diplomats work to remove the sanctions, some analysts caution that this move prioritizes short-term gains over more substantial, long-term changes for Syria’s future. Furthermore, by Jwan Shekaki