Fri May 23 22:56:31 UTC 2025: Here’s a news article summarizing the provided text:

**US Lifts Sanctions on Syria Following Policy Shift and Meeting with New Leader**

**Washington D.C. -** The United States government has announced significant sanctions relief for Syria, marking a major shift in policy and following an unannounced meeting between President Trump and Syrian leader Ahmed al-Sharaa. The move, unveiled by the Treasury Department on Friday, aims to stimulate investment and private sector activity in the war-torn nation, consistent with President Trump’s “America First” strategy.

The State Department simultaneously issued a waiver to the 2019 Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act, designed to allow foreign partners and allies to further unlock Syria’s economic potential. This action follows Trump’s surprise announcement earlier this month that he intended to remove sanctions imposed during the leadership of ousted President Bashar al-Assad.

“As President Trump promised, the Treasury Department and the State Department are implementing authorizations to encourage new investment into Syria,” Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in a statement. He expressed hope that the move would set Syria on a path to a “bright, prosperous, and stable future.”

The decision comes after the fall of al-Assad’s government last December, an offensive spearheaded by al-Sharaa, head of the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group. The conflict, which began in 2011, devastated the Syrian economy, resulting in hundreds of thousands of deaths and an estimated $442.2 billion in economic losses.

The newly announced sanctions relief applies to the Syrian government as it exists from May 13, 2025, and includes previously sanctioned entities in transportation, banking, tourism, and fossil fuels. Restrictions on transactions related to Russia, Iran, and North Korea remain in place.

A key challenge remains the Caesar Act, which requires Congressional action for a full repeal. However, the Trump administration has issued a temporary waiver, set to last 180 days. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated this waiver aims to “increase investments and cash flows that will facilitate basic services and reconstruction in Syria” and expressed support for the Syrian people’s efforts to build a more hopeful future. The European Union also announced it had lifted sanctions against Syria earlier this week.

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