The British government stated Thursday it was lifting sanctions against a dozen Syrian entities, together with government departments and media outlets, to assist the nation rebuild after President Bashar Assad was toppled from energy in a lightning insurgent offensive in December.
The U.Okay. had put the sanctions in place against those that supported Assad’s repressive rule, helped violently suppress civilians and unfold misinformation.
“The Syrian people deserve the opportunity to rebuild their country and economy, and a stable Syria is in the U.K.’s national interest,” Hamish Falconer, minister for the Middle East, stated in a press release explaining the aim of lifting the sanctions.
Syria’s new leaders have struggled to start rebuilding the nation’s decimated economic system and infrastructure after practically 14 years of civil conflict. The new authorities in Damascus have made a push for harsh sanctions imposed by western nations on Assad’s government to be lifted, with restricted success.
Financial sanctions and asset freezes had been lifted on a number of government agencies, together with the ministries of inside and protection, the Foreign Office stated.
Sanctions had been additionally dropped against the General Organization of Radio and TV, a state-run company that allegedly unfold propaganda for Assad and incited violence against civilians. The Foreign Office stated it additionally lifted sanctions against Al Watan, a newspaper, Cham Press TV, and Sama TV, for spreading misinformation.
Sanctions imposed against Assad and associates stay in place and laws was amended to permit the previous chief and others to be held accountable for atrocities dedicated against Syrians.
In March, the U.Okay. dropped sanctions against two dozen Syrian companies, largely banks and oil corporations.
The Trump administration within the U.S. has but to formally acknowledge the brand new Syrian government led by President Ahmad al-Sharaa, an Islamist former rebel who led the offensive that ousted Assad. The militant group al-Sharaa led, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, stays a U.S.-designated terrorist group, and the sanctions imposed on Damascus below Assad stay in place.
However, Washington has eased some restrictions. The U.S. Treasury in January issued a common license, lasting six months, that authorizes sure transactions with the Syrian government, together with some vitality gross sales and incidental transactions.
The European Union, in the meantime, has begun to ease some vitality and transport sanctions and banking restrictions against Syria, suspending measures concentrating on oil, gasoline and electrical energy in addition to transport, together with the aviation sector.
Published – April 24, 2025 11:06 pm IST
