U.S. Lifts Sanctions on Syria, Keeps Restrictions on Bashar al-Assad

President Donald Trump has signed an executive order ending U.S. sanctions against Syria that have been in place since 2004, Orda.kz reports, citing the White House.

The order eases export controls on certain goods and removes restrictions on foreign aid to Syria and directs the Secretary of State to review Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham’s (HTS) designation as a Foreign Terrorist Organization. Reports previously surfaced that the U.S. was considering its designation as such.

The United States is also urging the Syrian government to work toward normalizing ties with Israel and to take more effective action against foreign terrorist groups.

Sanctions against the ousted Syrian leader, Bashar al-Assad — who has reportedly taken refuge in Moscow — and his associates, human rights abusers, drug traffickers, persons linked to chemical weapons activities, ISIS*,  banned in Kazakhstan, or its affiliates, and Iranian proxies.

Meanwhile, the most stringent sanctions, imposed by Congress under the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act, passed in 2019, will require a congressional vote to permanently remove them.

Donald Trump had initially announced the removal of sanctions in May.

Original Author: Igor Ulitin

* Terrorist organization recognized as extremist in Kazakhstan: ISIS (Islamic State, by decision of the court of the Yesil district of Astana dated October 15, 2015)