US greenlights sanctions waiver for supporters of Syria’s transition
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The waiver reportedly covers Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkiye, the UAE, and Ukraine.
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People celebrate holding a large Syrian opposition flag at Umayyad Square in Damascus on December 9, 2024. (AFP)
The Biden administration has granted a limited sanctions waiver for regional countries assisting Syria's transitional government, Al-Monitor reported citing US officials.
On Friday, Secretary of State Antony Blinken informed lawmakers that the administration was lifting restrictions under the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 for nations providing support to the de facto government in Damascus, which would typically face restrictions on US-provided assistance due to Syria’s designation as a "State Sponsor of Terrorism".
The waiver covers Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkiye, the UAE, and Ukraine, according to a State Department official who spoke on condition of anonymity.
As the Biden administration nears its end, following the fall of al-Assad regime on December 8, it did not rescind any sanctions targeting the former regime nor lift Syria’s State "Sponsor of Terrorism" designation, which was applied in 1979 during Hafez al-Assad’s presidency.
Earlier this month, the US Treasury Department authorized certain transactions with Syria’s transitional government, aiming to reassure aid organizations and banks that humanitarian efforts, such as providing water, electricity, and energy, would not violate US sanctions.
Meanwhile, the Biden administration maintained the Foreign Terrorist Organization designation for Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the group that led the ousting of Syria's former regime and is now overseeing the country's political transition.
In late December, the administration removed the $10 million bounty on HTS leader Ahmad al-Sharaa after he assured US officials that he would prevent terrorist groups in Syria from threatening the US or the region.
Six EU members advocate for temporary suspension of Syria sanctions
Last week, six European Union member states urged the bloc to temporarily suspend certain sanctions on Syria, specifically in areas such as transport, energy, and banking, Reuters reported, citing a document.
EU foreign ministers are scheduled to discuss the potential relaxation of sanctions on Syria during a meeting in Brussels on January 27.
The document, endorsed by Germany, France, the Netherlands, Spain, Finland, and Denmark, stated that the EU "should immediately begin adjusting our sanctions regime."
However, the paper cautioned that if Syria fails to meet the EU's expectations regarding human rights and minority protections, further sanctions may remain in place, and previously lifted measures could be reinstated through a snapback mechanism.
Earlier this month, the United States issued a six-month sanctions exemption for transactions with Syrian governing institutions to facilitate humanitarian aid.
The six EU member states proposed lifting sanctions to enable civilian flights, reevaluating restrictions on high-value goods, removing the export ban on oil and gas technology, and reopening financial channels between the EU and Syria.
They emphasized that sanctions targeting members of al-Assad's administration and its supporters should remain intact.
Regarding HTS, the paper noted that lifting sanctions would require discussions at the United Nations level and coordination with key partners. It added that any decision would depend on a collective assessment of HTS, its leader Ahmad Al-Sharaa, and developments on the ground in Syria.
