US and EU Ease Select Sanctions on Syria Following Assad's Fall

Temporary measures aim to support humanitarian aid and reconstruction while maintaining broader sanctions on the transitional government.

The United States has issued a six-month general license allowing limited transactions with Syria's transitional government to facilitate humanitarian aid and basic services.
The European Union is considering lifting specific sanctions that obstruct recovery efforts, with discussions expected at a meeting of foreign ministers on January 27.
Sanctions relief focuses on energy transactions, public services, and personal remittances but does not remove broader restrictions or unblock assets tied to sanctioned entities.
Syria's caretaker government, led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), faces significant challenges, including severe shortages of fuel and wheat, as international sanctions remain largely intact.
The US and EU stress that further sanctions relief depends on the transitional government's commitment to inclusivity, minority rights, and responsible governance.