The draft resolution marks the sharpest international re-legitimization step since Bashar al-Assad was ousted in December after 13 years of civil war.

It also caps a broader U.S. policy shift since May, when Trump pledged to remove American sanctions on Syria’s new leadership.

Draft Resolution Targets UN Blacklist

Washington’s draft Security Council text would lift UN sanctions on Sharaa and Interior Minister Anas Khattab, both still listed under a travel ban, asset freeze and arms embargo linked to HTS.

The 15-member Council has been under U.S. pressure “for months” to ease Syria-related measures, but any resolution will require at least nine votes and no veto from the five permanent members.

A sanctions committee has already been granting Sharaa ad-hoc travel exemptions this year, allowing him to move despite his listing.

From Assad’s Fall To HTS Rule

Assad’s removal in December followed a rapid offensive led by HTS, which was al-Qaeda’s official Syrian wing until it publicly broke ties in 2016.

The group has sat on the Council’s al-Qaeda and Islamic State sanctions list since May 2014, even as Sharaa and his circle seek to recast themselves as a more “moderate” leadership.

Washington de-listed HTS as a terrorist organization in July, further underscoring the U.S. re-assessment of Syria’s new rulers.

“Good Progress” Toward Peace, Says White House

The White House said Tuesday that Sharaa had made “good progress” toward stabilizing his war-torn country and confirmed Trump will host him on November 10.

Spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt framed the meeting as part of the president’s willingness “to meet with anyone around the world in the pursuit of peace,” calling the lifting of U.S. sanctions in May an attempt “to give them a real chance at peace.”

It will be the first-ever White House visit by a Syrian head of state and Sharaa’s second U.S. trip after a landmark UN General Assembly address in New York in September.

Reconstruction, Counter-Terrorism And Alliance Politics

Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani has said the Washington visit will focus on lifting remaining sanctions, reconstruction financing and counter-terrorism cooperation.

U.S. envoy Tom Barrack added that Sharaa is “hopefully” coming to sign an agreement to join the international U.S.-led coalition against Islamic State.

Sharaa first met Trump in May in Riyadh, during the U.S. president’s regional tour, signaling the start of a cautious rapprochement that is now moving onto formal UN ground.