Overview

• President Trump announced the suspension of U.S. sanctions on Syria after meeting with Ahmad al-Sharaa in Riyadh, triggering a 25% surge in the Syrian pound.
• Ahmad al-Sharaa, a former jihadist commander, has consolidated power since ousting Bashar al-Assad in December 2024, granting himself sweeping presidential authority and delaying elections.
• Sectarian violence persists, with Sunni militias massacring Alawis in March and government forces assaulting Druze areas, while investigations into atrocities yield no substantive outcomes.
• Sanctions relief opens the door to Gulf investment and reconstruction aid, but critics warn of enabling a rebranded autocracy under Al-Sharaa's rule.
• Minority groups, including Alawis, Druze, and Kurds, face increased repression as Al-Sharaa rejects federal autonomy proposals and centralizes authority.