\n 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 [GETTY]<\/p>\n
Britain<\/a> 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<\/a> with US President Donald Trump next week, with the European Union confirming it would follow suit.<\/p>\n Britain stated in a notice on its government’s website that it was also lifting sanctions on Syria’s Interior Minister, Anas Khattab<\/a>.<\/p>\n Both men had formerly been subject to financial sanctions targeted at the Islamic State and al-Qaeda.<\/p>\n A European Union spokesperson said on Friday the UN decision would be reflected in EU measures.<\/p>\n Britain lifted<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n “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.<\/p>\n Sharaa<\/a>, formerly known as Abu Mohammad al-Julani, became Syria’s president in January after insurgent forces led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) ousted<\/a> Bashar al-Assad in a lightning offensive.<\/p>\n Sharaa, once a senior figure in HTS and previously affiliated with al-Qaeda<\/a>, was sanctioned by the UN and Britain in 2014, which included a travel ban, asset freeze and arms embargo.<\/p>\n