US lawmaker introduces legislation to lift Assad-era sanctions on Syria

WASHINGTON

US Rep. Joe Wilson announced Thursday that he and several of his colleagues introduced a bipartisan bill to lift Assad-era sanctions on Syria.

"The Caesar law targeted the Assad regime and with the fall of the regime it must be permanently repealed," Wilson said in a statement. He was referring to the 2020 Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act, which imposed sweeping sanctions on the Bashar al-Assad regime.

Wilson said he introduced the legislation with Representatives Jimmy Panetta, Marlin Stutzman, Lou Correa, Pramila Jayapal that "would FULLY repeal the Caesar law and its sanctions on Syria."

The congressman also expressed his thanks to US Ambassador to Türkiye Tom Barrack, who also serves as US special envoy to Syria, for his efforts in rolling back the sanctions.

Bashar al-Assad, Syria’s leader for nearly 25 years, fled to Russia in December, ending the Baath Party regime, which had been in power since 1963.

Ahmed al-Sharaa, who led anti-regime forces to oust Assad, was declared president for a transitional period in January.

During a visit to the Middle East last month, US President Donald Trump said he would order the removal of “brutal and crippling” sanctions on Syria to give that country “a chance at greatness.”

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in May that he had issued a 180-day waiver of the mandatory Caesar Act sanctions to ensure they do not obstruct investments aimed at stabilizing and rebuilding Syria.

"These waivers will facilitate the provision of electricity, energy, water, and sanitation, and enable a more effective humanitarian response across Syria," he said in a statement.

Rubio said the actions represent the "first step" in delivering on Trump's vision of a new relationship between Syria and the US.

Trump is providing the Syrian government a chance to "promote peace and stability, both within Syria and in Syria’s relations with its neighbors," he added.

"The President has made clear his expectation that relief will be followed by prompt action by the Syrian government on important policy priorities," Rubio said.