Washington: The US Congress is preparing to repeal the Caesar Act sanctions imposed on Syria, as revealed by a document incorporated into the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026. This legislative action aims to lift restrictions initially designed to penalize the former regime of Bashar al-Assad for its war crimes.
According to Anadolu Agency, the draft legislation explicitly states, "The Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act of 2019...is hereby repealed." However, before this repeal can become law, it requires approval from the House of Representatives. The repeal is contingent upon several conditions being met by Syria.
The document outlines that the US president must certify to various congressional committees, first within 90 days and subsequently every 180 days for the next four years, that Syria is making significant progress in eliminating ISIS and other terrorist groups, respecting minority rights, refraining from military aggression against neighboring countries, combating money laundering and terrorism financing, prosecuting crimes against humanity from the former regime, and taking measures to curb drug production. Should the president determine over two reporting periods that these conditions are unmet, sanctions may be reinstated.
The document further mandates that the US Defense Department report to Congress on ISIS detention facilities in Syria. Additionally, the Defense Department, alongside US Central Command, is tasked with reporting on the status of US force posture, basing locations, and activities in Syria.
The Caesar Act, enacted in 2019, imposed extensive secondary sanctions to prevent US and foreign entities from engaging with Syria's government, targeting Assad's human rights violations and chemical weapons use. Some US sanctions have already been lifted, including the removal of senior Syrian officials from UN and US terror-related sanctions lists. While congressional action is necessary to lift remaining sanctions, the administration has the power to waive them for 180-day periods, as occurred in November.
The process of lifting US sanctions began under President Donald Trump, following his meeting with Syrian leader Ahmad al-Sharaa in Saudi Arabia in May. Post-meeting, Trump announced the lifting of sanctions and issued an executive order in June to formally remove comprehensive US sanctions. Additionally, the US State Department supported the new Syrian government by revoking the Foreign Terrorist Organization designation of the al-Nusrah Front, also known as Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham, in July and removed Sharaa from the Specially Designated Global Terrorist list on November 7.