DAMASCUS, Dec 20, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa on Friday welcomed the permanent lifting by the United States of the so-called Caesar sanctions, paving the way for the return of investments to the war-ravaged nation. The US Congress on Wednesday permanently ended the sanctions imposed on Syria under Bashar al-Assad, who was ousted in December last year. The Caesar Act, named after an anonymous photographer who documented atrocities in Assad's prisons, severely restricted investment and cut off Syria from the international banking system. "Today is the first day that Syria is without sanctions, thanks to God Almighty, and then to your efforts and patience for 14 years," Sharaa said in a recorded video in the first post of his official X account. Trump had already twice suspended the implementation of sanctions against Syria in response to pleas from Saudi Arabia and Turkey, allies of the new government headed by Sharaa, a former jihadist.

Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha December 20, 2025 02:45 UTC