US eases Syria sanctions imposed after Assad’s fall to rebel forces

The United States has started lifting some of the longest-standing sanctions on Syria, after President Donald Trump met with the country’s new leader, Ahmed Al-Sharaa, in Saudi Arabia last week. The Treasury Department made the move official on Friday, labeling it “immediate sanctions relief.”

These were sanctions originally enforced during the Assad dictatorship, which collapsed last December when rebel forces seized Damascus and forced Bashar al-Assad to flee to Moscow, ending nearly 14 years of civil war.

According to the announcement, Trump’s administration is attempting to open up Syria’s economy for investment while keeping several core restrictions in place.

Although the president has the authority to cancel executive orders, many parts of the sanctions, especially the 2019 Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act, still require Congressional approval to be removed.

That Act punishes any attempt to conduct business with the Syrian government, unless it’s strictly for humanitarian purposes.

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