The U.S. has permanently repealed the 2019 Caesar Act sanctions on Syria, clearing a major legal obstacle to international investment after Bashar Assad was toppled in December 2024. The repeal was passed as part of the U.S. defense bill and signed by President Trump, and it does not include direct conditions — though Congress will require periodic reports on minority rights and counterterrorism. Regional allies welcomed the move while a bloc of U.S. Republicans warned sanctions could be reimposed if progress is not made; the U.K. separately announced targeted sanctions over recent sectarian violence.
U.S. Permanently Repeals 2019 'Caesar Act' Sanctions on Syria; Reactions Mixed
Syria's interim president, Ahmad al-Sharaa, greets people as he attends celebrations marking the first anniversary of the ousting of former President Bashar Assad in Damascus, Syria, Monday, Dec. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Omar Sanadiki) I
Damascus — Syria's government and its regional backers welcomed the permanent repeal of the most far-reaching U.S. sanctions imposed on the country in recent years, while critics warned of potential setbacks for minority protections and accountability.
What Changed
Congress enacted the so-called Caesar Act in 2019 to penalize the Syrian government and its financial system for alleged human rights abuses during the civil war that began in 2011. The U.S. has now permanently removed those sanctions after Congress included the repeal in the annual defense spending bill and President Donald Trump signed it into law.
Why Advocates Pushed for Repeal
Supporters of the repeal — including some who earlier supported sanctions — argued that the restrictions deterred international investment and hindered reconstruction of Syria's battered economy and infrastructure after the ouster of Bashar Assad in a rapid rebel offensive in December 2024. They say lifting the sanctions will make it easier to finance rebuilding projects and reintegrate Syria into the international financial system.
Conditions, Oversight and Political Pushback
The repeal was adopted without formal conditions tied to human-rights or minority-protection benchmarks, but Congress attached a requirement for periodic reports monitoring Syria's progress on issues such as minority rights and counterterrorism. A bloc of 134 Republican House members warned they would push to reimpose sanctions if the Syrian government does not demonstrate meaningful progress; the House Foreign Affairs Committee plans a hearing on treatment of religious minorities in early 2026.
Official Reactions
Syria's Foreign Ministry thanked the United States for the repeal, saying it will "contribute to alleviating the burdens on the Syrian people and open the way for a new phase of recovery and stability," and urged Syrian businesspeople and foreign investors to participate in reconstruction projects. Central Bank Governor Abdulkader Husrieh said the repeal will allow Syria to seek a sovereign credit rating and begin reintegration into international finance, noting that a low initial rating would be "normal for countries emerging from conflict."
"Syria will likely start with a low rating, which is normal for countries emerging from conflict. The real value lies in the benchmark set by the rating and the road map it provides for improvement," Central Bank Governor Abdulkader Husrieh said.
Regional allies Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Qatar applauded the move. Turkish and Saudi officials publicly praised the decision; President Ahmad al-Sharaa of the interim Syrian government thanked those countries and President Trump in a speech marking the repeal.
United Kingdom Moves Separately
On the same day, the United Kingdom announced targeted sanctions against individuals and armed groups it says were involved in violence against civilians during sectarian clashes on Syria's coast earlier this year. The U.K. measures named several people linked to the old Assad-era apparatus and individuals and groups tied to the new government's military forces accused of responsibility for attacks that human rights groups say left hundreds dead.
Reconstruction Needs
The World Bank estimates Syria's reconstruction bill at roughly $216 billion, a figure frequently cited by officials urging international investment. Observers say lifting the Caesar Act removes a major legal and financial hurdle but does not guarantee funding or political stability necessary for reconstruction.
What Comes Next
- Periodic U.S. congressional reports will track Syria's progress on minority rights and counterterrorism.
- U.S. lawmakers and international observers will monitor whether the interim government curbs abuses and allows safe, inclusive reconstruction.
- The U.K.'s targeted sanctions signal continued international scrutiny of violence against civilians despite Washington's repeal.
As Syria begins a new phase, analysts say the repeal is only the first step: investors will watch political stability, rule of law and transparency before committing major reconstruction funds.
