Syrians optimistic but cautious as sanctions removal revives economic hopes
Syrians optimistic but cautious as sanctions removal revives economic hopes US decision to delist Syria as a ‘state sponsor of terrorism’ sparks cautious...
Key points
- Syrians optimistic but cautious as sanctions removal revives economic hopes US decision to delist Syria as a ‘state sponsor of terrorism’ sparks cautious optimism among businesses and citizens.
- Damascus, Syria – For many Syrians, the decades of rule by the al-Assad family – Hafez al-Assad from 1971 to 2000, then his son Bashar from 2000 to 2024 – were filled with oppression from the state and eventually more than a decade of civil war.
- Lebanese pop star released on bail - list 2 of 3Bomb attacks rattle Damascus but for most Syrians, life goes on - list 3 of 3The US is building a new pressure architecture against Iran Despite the fall of Bashar al-Assad after rebel groups defeated him in December 2024, many of the sanctions, including a “state sponsor of terrorism” designation, have remained.
- The designation has impeded Syria’s rejoining of the international community, while sanctions have impacted Syrians.
What happened
Syrians optimistic but cautious as sanctions removal revives economic hopes US decision to delist Syria as a ‘state sponsor of terrorism’ sparks cautious optimism among businesses and citizens. Damascus, Syria – For many Syrians, the decades of rule by the al-Assad family – Hafez al-Assad from 1971 to 2000, then his son Bashar from 2000 to 2024 – were filled with oppression from the state and eventually more than a decade of civil war. Lebanese pop star released on bail - list 2 of 3Bomb attacks rattle Damascus but for most Syrians, life goes on - list 3 of 3The US is building a new pressure architecture against Iran Despite the fall of Bashar al-Assad after rebel groups defeated him in December 2024, many of the sanctions, including a “state sponsor of terrorism” designation, have remained. The designation has impeded Syria’s rejoining of the international community, while sanctions have impacted Syrians. The sanctions linked to the US’s “state sponsor of terrorism” list are among the few to remain. The first “state sponsor of terrorism” designation on Syria was during Hafez al-Assad’s rule in 1979, due to the government’s support for Palestinian armed groups.