UK Lifts Sanctions on Syria Def., Interior Ministries, Intel Agencies

By Staff, Agencies

The United Kingdom has officially lifted sanctions on Syria’s defense and interior ministries, along with several intelligence agencies, in a significant Syria asset freeze reversal, Reuters reported on Thursday.

This decision marks a shift in the UK-Syria foreign policy, following the ousting of former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad by armed forces led by the Islamist Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group in December.

A notice from the British finance ministry, published online on Thursday, confirmed that 12 Syrian entities are no longer subject to an asset freeze.

These include the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Defense, and the General Intelligence Directorate.

The notice did not elaborate on the reasons behind this policy change.

This latest development follows the British government's decision in March to lift sanctions on Syria's central bank and 23 other entities, including financial institutions and oil companies.

These steps suggest that the UK is seeking to recalibrate its relationship with Syria as new power dynamics emerge following years of war on the country.

The lifting of sanctions comes as part of a broader reassessment by Western nations of their strategies in Syria.

While the full implications of this policy shift are yet to be seen, it raises questions about future engagement and support for the reconstruction of Syria under new leadership.

Despite these changes, UK officials have maintained that measures against individuals and groups linked directly to the al-Assad regime will continue to be enforced, keeping pressure on those associated with the previous government.