The United States and Britain removed sanctions on Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa on Friday, following a United Nations Security Council decision to delist him and days before his planned meeting with President Trump next week. The delistings end asset freezes and, in Washington's case, remove a Specially Designated Global Terrorist tag from al-Sharaa and Syria's interior minister, Anas Khattab, according to official notices. U.S. and British steps followed a U.N. vote on a U.S.-drafted resolution and the European Union said it would move to follow suit, signalling a coordinated diplomatic shift ahead of the White House visit.

Highlights:

• Other delisted official: Syria's interior minister, Anas Khattab, was removed from the same blacklist and is no longer subject to an asset freeze under the recent notices.
• UK formal notice: The U.K.'s Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation published an official notice saying al-Sharaa and Khattab 'are no longer subject to an asset freeze' after the U.N. delisting.
• U.S. Treasury action: The U.S. Treasury removed Specially Designated Global Terrorist designations for al-Sharaa and Khattab via a notice on its website, formalizing Washington's delisting.
• U.S. rationale: The State Department framed the moves as recognition of progress by Syria's leadership and cited cooperation on issues such as finding missing Americans and eliminating remaining chemical weapons, according to official statements.
• Visit confirmation: U.S. Special Envoy Tom Barrack confirmed that al-Sharaa would visit Washington next week and expressed hope Damascus would join the U.S.-led coalition against Islamic State.

These actions are being taken in recognition of the progress demonstrated by the Syrian leadership after the departure of Bashar al-Assad and more than 50 years of repression under the Assad regime - Tommy Pigott

Perspectives:

• United States State Department: The U.S. said delistings reflect progress by the Syrian leadership and cited cooperation on finding missing Americans and eliminating remaining chemical weapons. (The New Arab)
• U.S. special envoy Tom Barrack: Barrack confirmed al-Sharaa will visit Washington next week and said Damascus might join the U.S.-led coalition to defeat Islamic State. (Al-Monitor (Reuters))
• European Union: The EU confirmed it would follow the U.N. and Western delistings and coordinate its own measures accordingly. (Al-Monitor (Reuters))
• Israel (reported reaction): Israeli officials initially opposed Washington's overtures and Israel has carried out air strikes in Syria since the end of the Assad era, according to reporting. (The New Arab)

Sources:

• London lifts sanctions on Syrian president - rt.com
• US, Britain remove sanctions on Syria's president - al-monitor.com
• US, Britain remove sanctions on Syria’s president - straitstimes.com
• US removes Syria president from terror list before visit - newarab.com
• US removes Syrian president from terror list ahead of Washington visit - lemonde.fr
• US Removes Syria's Al-Sharaa From Terror List Ahead Of His Washington Visit - ndtv.com