Britain removes sanctions on Syria’s president, EU to follow

Britain removed sanctions on Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa on Friday, a day after the United Nations Security Council did the same ahead of his meeting with US President Donald Trump next week, with the European Union confirming it would follow suit.

Britain said in a notice on the government’s website that it was also lifting sanctions on Syria’s Interior Minister Anas Khattab.

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Both men had formerly been subject to financial sanctions targeted at ISIS and al-Qaeda.

A European Union spokesperson said on Friday the UN decision would be reflected in EU measures.

Britain lifted some sanctions on Syria in April, while the bloc lifted its economic sanctions in May, but restrictions related to arms and security remain in place.

“We remain committed to supporting a peaceful and inclusive Syrian-led and Syrian-owned transition to help build a better future for all Syrians,” a European Commission spokesperson said.

Al-Sharaa became Syria’s president in January after opposition forces led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) ousted Bashar al-Assad in a lightning offensive.

Al-Sharaa, once a senior figure in HTS and previously affiliated with al-Qaeda, was sanctioned by the UN and Britain in 2014, which included a travel ban, asset freeze and arms embargo.

The UN Security Council lifted those measures on Thursday, citing a lack of active ties between HTS and al-Qaeda. The move came ahead of al-Sharaa’s planned meeting with Trump at the White House on Monday.

With Reuters

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