Washington / Jerusalem / Damascus — In a historic shift, the Trump administration on Monday announced the formal revocation of U.S. sanctions on Syria, dismantling more than two decades of restrictions against Damascus. The move, officials said, implements President Donald Trump’s June 30 executive order “Providing for the Revocation of Syria Sanctions.”

The State Department described the decision as a chance to “give Syrians a chance at greatness” under the country’s new leadership, while stressing that sanctions would remain in place against “the worst of the worst — Assad’s cronies, war criminals, drug traffickers, and Iran’s proxies.”

Entire Syrian military units, including the Fourth Division, First Division, and National Defense Forces, were delisted, along with the state oil company SYTROL, which the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) removed from the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List.

“This represents a comprehensive and precedent-setting step,” Treasury officials said, noting that while Washington had previously adjusted sanctions, it had never fully abolished the legal framework.

Shift in U.S. Policy

President Trump concluded that “the circumstances that led to declaring a national emergency in 2004 against Bashar Assad’s regime have fundamentally changed.” The administration cited the “positive actions” of Syria’s new interim president, Ahmed al-Sharaa (Abu Mohammad al-Julani), who assumed office earlier this year.

While sanctions relief is sweeping, restrictions tied to terrorism, chemical weapons, and human rights abuses will remain in place under other legal authorities, including Executive Order 13894. Pending cases under the old sanctions regime also remain unaffected.

Security Talks with Israel

The policy shift coincides with reports that Israel and Syria are nearing a landmark U.S.-brokered security agreement. Senior American envoy Thomas Barrack, joined by U.S. Ambassador Mike Huckabee, arrived in Israel on Sunday for consultations with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer, and Defense Minister Israel Katz.

Syrian President al-Sharaa confirmed to Arab journalists that talks were at an “advanced stage,” though he downplayed expectations of a full peace treaty. “A comprehensive peace agreement is not on the agenda at this stage,” he told Sky News Arabia, but added that he “will not hesitate” to sign any arrangement beneficial to Syria and the wider region.

Reported Terms of the Emerging Deal

According to Israel’s Channel 12 News, the proposed framework includes:

• Demilitarization of the Syrian-controlled Golan Heights, reducing threats of cross-border attacks.
• Restrictions on Syria’s military, including blocking Turkey from rebuilding Damascus’s armed forces.
• Ban on advanced weaponry such as strategic missiles and air defense systems, to preserve Israel’s operational freedom against Iran.
• Humanitarian and reconstruction aid coordinated by the U.S. and Gulf states, reducing reliance on hostile actors.
• A humanitarian corridor into Jabal al-Druze, strengthening ties between Druze communities in Syria and Israel.

Wider Regional Context

Barrack is set to extend his mission to Lebanon, accompanied by Senator Lindsey Graham, where discussions will focus on a Lebanese government plan to disarm Hezbollah in exchange for halting Israeli military operations. Hezbollah has rejected the plan, though Beirut’s cabinet has endorsed it.

The initiative follows over a year of clashes between Israel and Hezbollah, triggered by the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attacks in southern Israel. Israeli strikes have since crippled much of Hezbollah’s leadership and arsenal.

Historical Weight

Israel and Syria have been in a state of war since 1948. Israel seized two-thirds of the Golan Heights during the 1967 Six-Day War, later annexing the territory in 1981 — a move recognized internationally only by the United States. The current talks, if successful, would mark the most significant breakthrough in bilateral relations in decades.

Despite concerns about al-Sharaa’s past ties to jihadist groups, regional analysts see the talks as a chance to reshape the Middle East’s security landscape. “The chances of reaching such an agreement are greater than the chances of not reaching it,” said journalist Nadim Koteich, who attended al-Sharaa’s briefing in Damascus.

For now, Washington’s unprecedented lifting of sanctions, coupled with tentative steps toward Israel-Syria security cooperation, signals a dramatic recalibration of U.S. policy in the Middle East — one with potentially far-reaching consequences for the region.

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