20251217 Us Congress Ends Syria Sanctions
France 244 hrs
US Congress Votes to Permanently Lift Syria Sanctions
Does repealing the Caesar Act sanctions offer Syria hope for rebuilding, or legitimize a regime tied to terrorism and extremism?
Above: Ahmed al-Sharaa during the United Nations (UN) General Assembly in NYC, on Sept. 24. Image credit: Spencer Platt/Getty Images
The Spin
Pro-establishment narrative
Repealing the Caesar Act sanctions is a positive breakthrough that opens crucial pathways for Syria's reconstruction and international reintegration. The bipartisan Senate vote demonstrates recognition that punitive measures designed for Assad's brutal regime now only obstruct the Syrian people's recovery and deter essential foreign investment needed to rebuild a war-devastated nation. This decisive legislative action gives Syria a real chance to emerge from decades of suffering and rejoin the global community.
Establishment-critical narrative
That Washington is now permanently lifting sanctions on Syria under the regime of Ahmed al-Sharaa — a former al-Qaeda commander who led jihadist forces before reinventing himself and consolidating power — fits a familiar pattern in U.S. policy. After years of sanctions that strangled economic life and deepened civilian suffering, they are removed once regime change is secured. The message is clear: when power aligns with U.S. interests, terrorist ties, authoritarian rule and unresolved atrocities become negotiable.