Overview

• Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani raised the three-starred opposition-era flag at the United Nations headquarters in New York, marking a symbolic break from the Assad regime.
• Al-Shibani urged the international community to lift sanctions, citing their impact on refugee returns, economic stability, and infrastructure reconstruction.
• The United States has yet to formally recognize Syria’s new Islamist-led government and continues to enforce most sanctions, despite targeted exemptions.
• The UK and EU have begun easing sanctions on Syria, with Britain lifting restrictions on several government entities and sectors.
• Syrian officials also attended IMF and World Bank meetings in Washington this week, underscoring the new administration’s focus on economic recovery and international engagement.