Overview

• President Donald Trump announced plans to lift U.S. sanctions on Syria, crediting Saudi Arabia and Turkey for their role in shaping the decision.
• The Trump administration is drafting measures and seeking a 180-day Congressional waiver to fully enact sanctions relief.
• Turkey has expanded its role in Syria, funding public services in Idlib and training new security forces, while managing refugee repatriation efforts.
• Critics have raised concerns over Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa’s ties to the formerly al-Qaeda-linked Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham, which remains designated as a terrorist organization.
• The policy shift has drawn mixed reactions, with some praising the move as a step toward reconstruction and others calling for conditions tied to minority protections and counterterrorism assurances.