House votes to repeal Syria Caesar sanctions
The U.S. House of Representatives voted Wednesday to repeal sanctions tied to the 2019 Caesar Act against Syria, with the Senate expected to take up the measure next week. The move, coming as Syrians mark one year since Bashar al‑Assad’s ouster, would unwind sweeping U.S. financial restrictions and is expected to reopen formal payment and banking channels, easing humanitarian and reconstruction efforts.
📌 Key Facts
- House vote this week repeals Caesar Act–related sanctions imposed in 2019.
- Syrian Foreign Ministry hailed the repeal as a 'pivotal moment.'
- Senate approval is expected next week; lifting sanctions would enable card networks like Visa and Mastercard to operate and ease international transfers.
📊 Relevant Data
Syria's population is approximately 74% Sunni Muslim and 13% Alawite, Ismaili, and Shia combined, contributing to sectarian tensions as the Assad regime was led by the Alawite minority ruling over the Sunni majority.
Estimates of the total number of deaths in the Syrian civil war range between 580,000 and approximately 656,493 as of recent reports.
Casualties of the Syrian civil war — Wikipedia
Ahmed al-Sharaa, also known as Abu Mohammad al-Julani, was a former leader of the al-Nusra Front, an al-Qaeda affiliate, before rebranding his group to Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and renouncing ties to al-Qaeda.
Ahmed al-Sharaa — Britannica
Syria's economy contracted by 1.5% in 2024, with projected growth of 1% in 2025, and reconstruction costs estimated at over $216 billion, partly hampered by U.S. sanctions.
Syria's growth accelerates as sanctions ease, refugees return: central bank chief — Reuters