The Trump administration granted Syria sweeping exemptions from sanctions on Saturday in a big first step toward fulfilling the US President’s pledge to lift a half-century of penalties on a country shattered by 13 years of civil war.

Tom Barrack's appointment signals Washington’s recognition of Türkiye’s increased regional influence in the aftermath of Bashar al-Assad’s ousting by rebel forces last year

President Donald Trump’s announcement that the U.S. will ease sanctions on Syria could eventually facilitate the country’s recovery from years of civil war and transform the lives of everyday Syrians.

Syria's new authorities have agreed to help the United States locate and return Americans who went missing in the war-torn country, a US envoy said.

President Donald Trump said on Tuesday he would order the lifting of sanctions on Syria at the behest of Saudi Arabia's crown prince, a major U.S. policy shift ahead of an expected meeting with Syria's Islamist President Ahmed al-Sharaa.

The statement came after the Trump administration granted Syria sweeping exemptions from sanctions on Friday (May 23) in a major first step toward fulfilling the president’s pledge to lift a half-century of penalties on a country shattered by 14 years of civil war.

The Treasury Department's OFAC said that it "issued Syria to provide immediate sanctions relief for Syria in line with the President’s announcement for the cessation of all sanctions."

The levies include secondary sanctions targeting individuals or companies who engage with Damascus, so private sector companies will only move after a US green light.