“It’s their time to shine. We’re taking them all off. Good luck, Syria, show us something very special.”

The move came despite deep Israeli suspicion of Sharaa’s administration, worries initially shared by some US officials. Israeli officials have continued to describe Sharaa as a jihadist, though he severed ties with al-Qaeda in 2016. Israel’s government did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

A ‘new start’

Ever since overthrowing Assad in December, Syria’s new Islamist rulers have been pushing Western states to lift sanctions imposed on the country largely during the former president’s rule.

UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said: “It was important for us to see relief on sanctions on Syria to help the reconstruction of Syria, to help the Syrian people recover from more than a decade of conflict, a decade of under investment.”

US-Saudi arms deal