Shortly after the fall of Bashar al-Assad in early December 2024, the international community began to ease sanctions against the country, with the aim of improving the humanitarian situation and reviving a battered economy.
The United States, the United Kingdom and Europe lifted punitive measures covering about $15 billion in restricted assets and trade measures in May.
Regional powers including Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Qatar have backed a renewed commitment, offering to finance public salaries and energy infrastructure, and supporting Syria’s obligations to international financial institutions.
© ONUCHA/Ali Haj Suleiman
Syrian children welcome the arrival of a UN humanitarian mission (February 2025)
Bring Syria back into the fold
Steps to bring Syria back into the fold, however, were complicated by the fact that the group leading the offensive that ousted Assad from power – Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) – had been proscribed as a terrorist organization by the United Nations since 2014.
The leader of HTS under his leadership nom de guerre Mohammed Al-Jolani was among those sanctioned, subject to an asset freeze and a travel ban – but he is now the civilian head of the Syrian government under his real name, Ahmed al-Sharaa.
The decision taken Thursday by the Security Council This was followed by unilateral measures by several Member States. In July, the United States revoked HTS’s designation as a foreign terrorist group, followed by the United Kingdom in October.
The Syrian president met his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin the same month and is expected to meet US President Donald Trump in Washington next week.
The U.S.-sponsored resolution welcomes the interim government’s commitments to allowing unimpeded humanitarian access to the country, countering terrorism (including ISIL and Al-Qaeda), and protecting human rights. Fourteen Council members voted in favor and China abstained.
U.S. Ambassador Michael G. Waltz addresses the U.N. Security Council meeting on threats to international peace and security caused by terrorist acts.
“A strong political signal”
Ambassador Mike Waltz of the United States described the resolution as a “strong political signal” that recognizes that Syria is in a new era.
The government, he said, is “working hard to fulfill its commitments to combat terrorism and narcotics, eliminate all remnants of chemical weapons, and promote regional security and stability as well as an inclusive, Syrian-led and owned political process.”
China abstains
China’s representative, Ambassador Fu Cong, explained his country’s abstention, saying that although the resolution reaffirms the Council’s “counterterrorism demands,” the United States “failed to fully consider the views of all members and forced the Council to take action even when there were huge differences among Council members in order to serve its own political agenda.”
“We welcome the delisting,” said James Kariuki, the UK’s charge d’affaires, citing progress made by the Syrian government to date, including on political transition and positive steps in the fight against terrorism and chemical weapons.
“We hope that this resolution will further encourage deeper engagement with the international community,” he added, “and support the Syrian people in their reconstruction and economic development efforts.”
Pushing Syria on the path to recovery, Russia says
Vassily Nebenzia, Russia’s permanent representative, agreed on the need to facilitate Syria’s economic recovery and development during the transition period and said the resolution reflects the interests and aspirations of the Syrian people. Mr. Nebenzia cited Israel’s occupation of the Golan Heights and persistent terrorist threats as factors hindering the country’s long-term stability.
The terrorist risk was also highlighted by French Ambassador Jérôme Bonnafont, who said that “the fight against Daesh (ISIL) in the Middle East is not over and the risks of a resurgence should not be underestimated.”
This adoption, he continued, is “an important step on the path to the reconstruction of a sovereign, united and reconciled Syria, living in peace and free from the scourge of terrorism.”
A “badge of honor”
Syria’s delegate, Ambassador Ibrahim Abdulmalik Olabi, welcomed the Council’s strong support and commitment to respecting his country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. “We consider [this resolution] a sign of growing confidence in the new Syria, its people and its leaders,” he said, calling it a “badge of honor.”
Syria is turning the page on war and suffering, he stressed, by building a modern state based on the rule of law. “Damascus continues to reach out to all countries in the world,” the Permanent Representative said, adding that the government will strive to be a meeting point between East and West.
