The United States is poised to announce a significant easing of restrictions on providing humanitarian aid and basic services such as electricity to Syria, sources familiar with the matter revealed. Despite this shift, the Biden administration will maintain its strict sanctions regime, signaling a delicate balancing act between humanitarian relief and maintaining US leverage in the region.
The easing of restrictions is expected to send a signal of goodwill to Syria’s new Islamist rulers, particularly the group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which led the recent rebellion that brought an end to over 50 years of Assad family rule. The move aims to improve the dire living conditions in Syria, a country ravaged by years of civil war, while also treading carefully to retain American influence.
The decision follows multiple rounds of meetings between US officials and members of Syria’s new leadership, including representatives from HTS. The faction, which once had ties to Al-Qaeda but has since renounced them, has taken control following a dramatic rebel offensive that culminated on December 8, ending the long-standing Assad regime.
Although HTS is still designated as a terrorist organisation by the US, Washington has been pressing for cooperation on key priorities such as counterterrorism efforts and the creation of an inclusive government that represents all Syrian factions. The US administration’s approach aims to balance the urgent need for humanitarian aid with its broader strategic interests in the region.
The easing of restrictions, approved by the Biden administration over the weekend, will allow the US Treasury Department to issue waivers to aid groups and companies providing essential services such as water, electricity, and other humanitarian supplies. This decision, reported by “The Wall Street Journal”, is a significant step toward addressing the urgent humanitarian crisis in Syria while maintaining pressure on the country’s leadership.
Melissa Enoch
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