Syrian Sanctions Lifted

Not sure how this will play out, Syria is run by a former Al Qaeda terrorist. Israel and Syria seem to be trying to work out some sort of peace arrangement, and Trump is all in on the Syrian President. Hard to believe a leopard can change its spots. Trust but verify. Rh

Syrians are celebrating: Between Wednesday and Thursday night, the U.S. House of Representatives announced that it had approved the Defense Authorization Bill, which includes a provision lifting the sanctions imposed on Syria under the Caesar Act.

These sanctions were originally placed on the Assad regime for crimes against humanity committed during the civil war that erupted in the previous decade. The Senate is expected to approve the bill within the coming days, after which it will be sent to President Donald Trump for final signature.

The Caesar Act is named after the alias of a former Syrian military photographer who risked his life to smuggle out thousands of images documenting torture and executions of political prisoners by the Assad regime. Since fleeing Syria, he has devoted his life to seeking justice for the victims of Assad’s brutality.

Passed in late 2019, the Act enabled the United States to impose sweeping sanctions on the Assad regime for its crimes against humanity, including the use of chemical weapons and the torture of detainees. It also targeted individuals and entities that supported the regime, with the goal of weakening its economic capabilities.

The Defense Authorization Bill, which includes the repeal of the Caesar Act sanctions, is expected to take effect on January 1, 2026. However, in its current form, the bill grants the U.S. President the authority to impose new sanctions if circumstances require.

This marks a significant political victory for the government of Ahmad al-Shar’a. Despite the involvement of Islamist governing factions in mass atrocities against Alawites and Druze, al-Shar’a has continued to enjoy support from the Trump administration.

Following the de facto repeal of the Act, thousands of Syrians poured into the streets in celebration, as the sanctions had placed severe strain on the local economy. Celebrations were reported in Damascus’s Umayyad Square, as well as in Aleppo, Homs, and Latakia.

Syrian Tourism Minister Mazen al-Salhani stated that “the repeal of the Caesar Act is a historic turning point that corrects the path of international justice and opens wide horizons for the national economy.” Speaking to the state news agency, he added: “The tourism sector is still recovering. Lifting the restrictions will expand investment opportunities and ease the movement of tourism delegations. This will strengthen Syria’s position on both the regional and international tourism map.”

Syria’s Minister for Emergency and Disaster Management, Raed al-Salh, also welcomed the development: “For the first time in decades, Syria is free of American sanctions. The repeal of the Caesar Act ends a long era of isolation and punitive measures for which Syrians paid twice – suffering under the crimes of the previous regime and then enduring the economic and institutional collapse that followed.”