US Lifts Permanently Sanctions on Syria

The United States Congress has voted to permanently remove economic sanctions placed on Syria during the era of Bashar Assad, opening the door for international investment and helping rebuild the country after years of conflict.

President Donald Trump had previously delayed the implementation of these sanctions on two occasions, responding to requests from Saudi Arabia and Türkiye, both of which support the new Syrian leadership under Ahmed al-Sharaa.

However, Sharaa pushed for a complete repeal, arguing that businesses would hesitate to engage with Syria as long as the sanctions legally remained active inside the US system.

The Senate approved the cancellation of the Caesar Act—first introduced in 2019—as part of a broad annual defense bill. The legislation passed with strong bipartisan support in a 77–20 vote, following earlier approval in the House. Trump is expected to sign it into law soon.

Senator Jeanne Shaheen, the leading Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, welcomed the decision, calling it “an important move that offers Syrians a genuine chance to rebuild after decades of immense hardship.”

The Caesar Act, named after a whistleblower photographer who exposed torture inside Assad-run prisons, had blocked major investments in Syria and cut the country off from global banking networks.

The sanctions were originally meant to discourage foreign companies from helping to rebuild Syria at a time when Assad was regaining control after a long and devastating civil war that sent millions fleeing to Europe and enabled the rise of Daesh.

A year ago, anti-Assad forces loyal to Sharaa took control of Damascus in a sudden offensive.

Since then, Sharaa has worked to reshape Syria’s image abroad. His pro-Western diplomatic approach, along with his meeting with Trump in Riyadh last May, has strengthened ties between Washington and Damascus.