US Congress Takes Step Towards Lifting Sanctions on Syria Amid Assad's Ouster.
The US House of Representatives has advanced a bill that would repeal the restrictive Caesar Act sanctions imposed on Syria during Bashar al-Assad's rule. The move is part of a larger defense spending package, known as the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).
The bill, which passed on Wednesday, gives Syria a chance to chart its post-Assad future and could ease economic restrictions that have hindered the country's recovery from years of devastation. Human rights advocates welcome the easing of sanctions, arguing that lifting them will aid Syria's path towards economic recovery.
The Caesar Act was signed into law during President Donald Trump's first term, but Trump has since removed many sanctions on Syria and met with President Ahmed al-Sharaa, who led the push to oust al-Assad. However, some sanctions can only be removed by Congress, a step that Trump has encouraged lawmakers to take.
The bill now heads to the Senate, where it is expected to be voted on before the end of the year. If passed, it would repeal the 2019 Caesar Act, which sanctioned Syria for war crimes during its 13-year-long civil war. The bill also requires the White House to issue frequent reports confirming that Syria's new government is combating Islamist fighters and upholding the rights of religious and ethnic minorities.
Syrian officials have urged the repeal of remaining sanctions, saying it is necessary to give the country a fighting chance at economic stability and improvement. Syrian central bank Governor Abdulkader Husrieh called US sanctions relief a "miracle" in an interview with Reuters last week.
The UN Security Council has also voted to remove sanctions on al-Sharaa and Interior Minister Anas Khattab, who were previously on a list of individuals linked to ISIL (ISIS) and al-Qaeda.
The US House of Representatives has advanced a bill that would repeal the restrictive Caesar Act sanctions imposed on Syria during Bashar al-Assad's rule. The move is part of a larger defense spending package, known as the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).
The bill, which passed on Wednesday, gives Syria a chance to chart its post-Assad future and could ease economic restrictions that have hindered the country's recovery from years of devastation. Human rights advocates welcome the easing of sanctions, arguing that lifting them will aid Syria's path towards economic recovery.
The Caesar Act was signed into law during President Donald Trump's first term, but Trump has since removed many sanctions on Syria and met with President Ahmed al-Sharaa, who led the push to oust al-Assad. However, some sanctions can only be removed by Congress, a step that Trump has encouraged lawmakers to take.
The bill now heads to the Senate, where it is expected to be voted on before the end of the year. If passed, it would repeal the 2019 Caesar Act, which sanctioned Syria for war crimes during its 13-year-long civil war. The bill also requires the White House to issue frequent reports confirming that Syria's new government is combating Islamist fighters and upholding the rights of religious and ethnic minorities.
Syrian officials have urged the repeal of remaining sanctions, saying it is necessary to give the country a fighting chance at economic stability and improvement. Syrian central bank Governor Abdulkader Husrieh called US sanctions relief a "miracle" in an interview with Reuters last week.
The UN Security Council has also voted to remove sanctions on al-Sharaa and Interior Minister Anas Khattab, who were previously on a list of individuals linked to ISIL (ISIS) and al-Qaeda.
! I mean, think about it, the US is finally willing to lift some sanctions on Syria... that's like, totally huge for the country 
. It's gonna make a massive difference in their economy and stuff. I've been following this situation for ages and it's about time we saw some progress 
. Human rights advocates are super stoked too, they're all about easing restrictions so Syria can recover from those devastating years of war. And let's be real, it's not like the US is gonna just give them a free pass or anything... there are still conditions to be met and stuff 
. But I'm all for it!
. I know some people in my friend group are saying it's about time, but others think it's just gonna make things more complicated. What if it gives Iran or whoever else an opening to get back into the country? 
. The bill sounds good on paper, but what about human rights concerns? Are they just gonna be ignored now? 
I mean, I'm all for Syria getting back on its feet, but we should make sure that their new government is actually doing something positive 
. And what's with the White House reports? Are they just gonna be monitoring their every move to make sure they're not being too shady? 
They've been through so much and it's crazy how long these sanctions have been in place. It'll be interesting to see if lifting them really helps their economy recover. I mean, the UN Security Council has already voted to remove sanctions on some people involved with ISIS... but this is different because it's about whole country restrictions. I'm not sure what the next steps are, but hopefully it brings some much-needed stability and growth for Syria 
. And omg the governor said it was a "miracle" 
, that's so optimistic!
? the us congress is taking steps to lift sanctions on syria! thats such a huge deal 
. and i totally get it, after being under those sanctions for so long, its time for them to rebuild and move forward 
.
imagine the economic impact it could have on a country that's been through so much devastation over the past 13 years... 
... lifting sanctions in syria could be a game changer for the country... think about it, no more restrictive laws holding them back... that means more opportunities for syrians to rebuild their lives, create jobs, stimulate economy 
, and now that assad is out, it's only natural to wanna lift the sanctions a bit 
. human rights advocates are all for it, 'cause economic recovery is key 
. some ppl might be worried about security stuff, but let's not forget we're talking about syria here... they've been through so much already 
.
. And it's not just about the money, it's also about human rights and stuff 
, which I think will really help the country recover from all the devastation it went through during the civil war 
. And it's not like Assad was some kind of perfect leader or anything... his ouster is definitely a step in the right direction 
. Let's just hope the new government can actually do something to help the country rebuild and not just keep all the wealth for themselves 
.
anyway, its about time!