Sat Jul 05 15:39:30 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a news article summarizing the provided text:
**UK Restores Diplomatic Ties with Syria, US Lifts Sanctions**
**Damascus, Syria** – In a significant shift in foreign policy, the United Kingdom is formally re-establishing diplomatic relations with Syria after a 14-year hiatus. British Foreign Secretary David Lammy met with interim Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa in Damascus on Saturday, marking the first visit by a British minister to the country since the outbreak of the Syrian civil war.
“After over a decade of conflict, there is renewed hope for the Syrian people,” Lammy said in a statement, emphasizing the UK’s desire to support the new government in building a stable and prosperous future for all Syrians.
The move follows the removal of longtime President Bashar al-Assad from power in December 2024, in an offensive led by al-Sharaa’s Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) armed group. Since then, Syria has been working to improve relations with Western nations.
The UK government had previously begun easing sanctions against Syrian entities in April, a trend mirrored by the United States. On Monday, President Donald Trump signed an executive order dismantling a wide range of sanctions that had been imposed on Syria under the Assad regime.
Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani hailed Trump’s decision as a crucial step towards economic recovery and reintegration into the international community. He stated that this will pave way for reconstruction and Development for a country ravaged by over a decade of conflict.
Syria’s new leadership faces the daunting task of rebuilding the nation’s economy and infrastructure, which have been devastated by years of civil war that have claimed half a million lives. The restoration of diplomatic ties and the lifting of sanctions represent significant steps towards that goal.
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