US Congress moves to repeal Syria’s Caesar Act sanctions
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The United States Congress is considering repealing the Caesar Act sanctions on Syria as part of the draft National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2026.
The legislation, which must be approved by the House of Representatives and signed by the President, would lift the sweeping economic restrictions imposed in 2019 to punish the Assad regime for human rights abuses and war crimes.
The draft NDAA explicitly states, “The Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act of 2019…is hereby repealed.” The law, named after a Syrian military photographer known as “Caesar” who documented atrocities, imposed broad secondary sanctions on entities doing business with Syria, significantly limiting both U.S. and international engagement with the country.
Repealing the sanctions could remove a major obstacle to Syria’s economic recovery and reconstruction, especially following the ouster of Bashar al-Assad and the establishment of a transitional administration under President Ahmad al-Sharaa.
Several Saudi firms are reportedly planning billion-dollar investments in Syria as part of Riyadh’s support for the country’s revival.
The compromise version of the NDAA also requires the White House to certify that Syria’s government is combating Islamic State militants, protecting religious and ethnic minority rights, and refraining from unprovoked military action against neighboring states, including 'Israel'.
President Donald Trump, whose administration had temporarily suspended some sanctions, announced plans in May to lift all U.S. sanctions on Syria. However, the Caesar Act can only be permanently repealed through Congressional approval.
Syrian officials have welcomed the potential repeal, with central bank Governor AbdulKader Husrieh describing the easing of sanctions as “a miracle” and noting that the economy is growing faster than expected.
The NDAA, a 3,000-page annual defense policy bill, is expected to pass Congress by the end of the year, signaling a major shift in U.S. policy toward Syria and potentially paving the way for regional economic and diplomatic changes.
