In a notable political development, the UN Security Council has voted in favor of a US resolution to lift sanctions on Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, who was appointed transitional president following the ousting of Bashar al-Assad in December 2024. This decision comes ahead of Sharaa's scheduled visit to the White House, which is seen as a significant step in US-Syria relations. The lifting of sanctions, which also included Syrian Interior Minister Anas Khattab, is viewed as a recognition of Syria's transition into a new era post-civil war. US Ambassador to the UN, Mike Waltz, emphasized that this action sends a strong political signal regarding Syria's evolving status. Sharaa's previous connections to the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, once linked to al-Qaeda, have been reassessed, with the US removing HTS from its list of foreign terror groups earlier this year. Sharaa's visit follows his historic address to the UN General Assembly, marking the first time a Syrian leader has spoken there in nearly 60 years.