British authorities reported that the measure was suspended to boost the country's growth.
PoliticsUnited Kingdom
The United Kingdom lifts sanctions on 12 Syrian entities.
21 hours ago
British authorities reported that the measure was suspended to boost the country's growth.
The UK regulation removed restrictions on eight state institutions. (File image 17.12.2016) Image: John MacDougall/AFP/Getty Images
The British Foreign Office on Thursday (24.04.2025) lifted sanctions imposed on a dozen government entities and media outlets in Syria to boost the country's growth following the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad's regime, it said in a statement.
The regulatory update, presented to the British Parliament on Thursday, removed restrictions on eight state institutions, including the Syrian government's Ministries of Defense and Interior, the Syrian General and Military Intelligence Directorates, and the Syrian National Security and Arms Supply Cabinets.
The media sector was also covered, including the Syrian Radio and Television umbrella organization and the Al Watan, Cham Press TV, and Sama TV channels, according to the statement.
On the contrary, sanctions against members of the former Assad regime and those involved in the illicit trade of fenetylline remain in place, the Foreign Office specified.
The United Kingdom will also amend restrictions imposed on some sectors, such as finance and energy production, in Syria, with the aim of "facilitating essential investment in Syria's energy infrastructure and helping the Syrian people rebuild their country and economy."
"Stability in Syria"
Other amendments to British legislation will allow the UK to hold Assad and his allies accountable for their "appalling actions" against the Syrian people, while also giving it scope to implement future sanctions in the country's context, the British ministry added.
British Secretary of State for the Middle East, Hamish Falconer, asserted that stability in Syria and the region is a matter of "national interest," and therefore, this decision also helps boost security in the United Kingdom and the Labour government's growth plans.
Along the same lines, the British politician recalled that the United Kingdom has allocated 160 million pounds (187.4 million euros) to support an "inclusive political transition" in Syria and insisted that they will continue to pressure the Syrian government to meet its promised goals.
This new announcement comes after the United Kingdom lifted asset freezes on 24 Syrian entities last March, including the Central Bank of Syria, Syrian Arab Airlines, and energy companies.