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

Britain removes sanctions on Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa, 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 will follow suit.

Britain says in a notice on the government’s website that it is also lifting sanctions on Syria’s interior minister Anas Khattab.

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

A European Union spokesperson says the UN decision will 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 says.

Sharaa, formerly known as Abu Mohammad al-Julani, became Syria’s president in January after insurgent forces led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) ousted Bashar al-Assad in a lightning offensive. 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 Sharaa’s planned meeting with Trump at the White House on Monday.