UK lifts sanctions on Syria, says country deserves chance to rebuild economy

The UK government has said it is lifting sanctions against a dozen Syrian entities, including government departments and media outlets, to help the country rebuild after President Bashar al-Assad was toppled in a lightning rebel offensive in December.

The UK had put the sanctions in place against those who supported Assad’s repressive rule, helped violently suppress civilians and spread misinformation.

“The Syrian people deserve the opportunity to rebuild their country and economy and a stable Syria is in the UK’s national interest,” Hamish Falconer, minister for the Middle East, said in a statement.

Syria’s new leaders have struggled to begin rebuilding the country’s decimated economy and infrastructure after nearly 14 years of civil war.

The new authorities in Damascus have made a push for harsh sanctions imposed by western countries on Assad’s government to be lifted, with limited success.

Financial sanctions and asset freezes were lifted on several government agencies, including the ministries of interior and defence, the UK Foreign Office said.

Sanctions were also dropped against the General Organization of Radio and TV, a state-run agency that allegedly spread propaganda for Assad and incited violence against civilians.

The Foreign Office said it also lifted sanctions against Al Watan, a newspaper, Cham Press TV, and Sama TV, for spreading misinformation.

Sanctions imposed against al-Assad and associates remain in place and legislation was amended to allow the former leader and others to be held accountable for atrocities committed against Syrians.

In March, the UK dropped sanctions against two dozen Syrian businesses, mostly banks and oil companies.

The Trump administration has yet to formally recognise the new Syrian government led by President Ahmad al-Sharaa, an Islamist former insurgent who led the offensive that ousted al-Assad.

The militant group al-Sharaa led, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), remains a US-designated terrorist organisation and the sanctions imposed on Damascus under al-Assad remain in place.

However, Washington has eased some restrictions.

In January, the US Treasury issued a general licence, lasting six months, that authorises certain transactions with the Syrian government, including some energy sales and incidental transactions.

The European Union, meanwhile, has begun to ease some energy and transport sanctions and banking restrictions against Syria, suspending measures targeting oil, gas and electricity as well as transport, including the aviation sector.