ALBAWABA- The U.S. Senate on Tuesday approved the repeal of the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act of 2019, a major policy shift toward post-Assad Syria, as part of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026.
The measure, which previously passed the House, lifts broad economic sanctions on the former Bashar al-Assad regime.
President Donald Trump, who signed the original Caesar Act during his first term, has supported its repeal, issuing executive orders earlier in 2025 to ease restrictions and encourage engagement with Syria’s transitional government under President Ahmed al-Sharaa.
Administration officials said the repeal will facilitate reconstruction while maintaining targeted measures against remaining hostile actors. White House oversight will require periodic certifications that Damascus is combating ISIS remnants, protecting minorities, and avoiding provocations against neighbors, including Israel.
The Caesar Act, enacted in 2019, imposed sanctions on Assad and his supporters for documented war crimes, including torture and civilian killings captured in smuggled photos by a defector codenamed "Caesar."
While intended to pressure the regime, the sanctions also hindered foreign investment, deepened Syria’s economic crisis, and worsened humanitarian conditions.
Following Assad’s ouster in December 2024 by rebel forces led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, sanctions increasingly affected ordinary Syrians, slowing recovery.
Lawmakers said the repeal could unlock international aid, trade, and investment, offering a path to rebuilding the conflict-ravaged nation.
Syrian officials welcomed the move, though critics warn of potential risks without strong safeguards. The NDAA now awaits President Trump’s signature, marking a potential new chapter for U.S. engagement in a changing Middle East.
