Trump relaxes US sanctions on Syria
Brad Smith, the treasury department official in charge of sanctions, said the move would 'end the country's isolation from the international financial system, setting the stage for global commerce and galvanising investments from its neighbours in the region, as well as from the United States'.
The order, released by the White House, said that Syria had been 'transformed' since the fall of Assad, including through 'positive actions taken by the new Syrian government under President Ahmed al-Sharaa'.
The orders still maintain sanctions on members of the former government, including Bashar al-Assad, who fled to Russia late last year.
Israel keen to normalise ties
Israel said earlier on Monday that it was interested in normalising ties with Syria as well as Lebanon in an expansion of the 'Abraham Accords', which would transform the Middle East.
Trump administration officials argued that lifting the sanctions on Syria would better integrate the country into the region.
Despite the new Syrian leader's claims to be progressive, the country has seen a series of serious attacks on minorities since the fall of Assad, a largely secular leader from the Alawite minority.
At least 25 people were killed and dozens more wounded in a suspected Islamist attack on a Greek Orthodox church in Damascus on June 22.
Until Mr Trump's surprise announcement of sanctions relief during a trip to Saudi Arabia, the United States had insisted on progress first in key areas including protection of minorities.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BreakingNews.ie
an hour ago
- BreakingNews.ie
Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu to meet Trump in Washington next week
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said he will travel to Washington next week to meet Donald Trump and other officials. Speaking to a meeting of his cabinet, Mr Netanyahu did not elaborate on the contents of his visit, except to say he will discuss a trade deal. Advertisement His visit comes as the US president has signalled he is ready for Israel and Hamas to wind down the war in Gaza, which is likely to be a focus of their talks. Iran is also expected to be a main topic of discussion after the 12-day war with Israel.
Reuters
an hour ago
- Reuters
Turkey says cartoon depicting prophets is `Islamophobic hate crime`
ANKARA, July 1 (Reuters) - A cartoon published by Turkish satirical magazine Leman depicting prophets was an 'Islamophobic hate crime,' ruling AK Party spokesman Omer Celik said on Tuesday. His remarks came a day after Turkish authorities detained four cartoonists over the drawing, which appeared to show Prophets Moses and Mohammad shaking hands in the sky while missiles flew below in a wartime scene.
The Guardian
an hour ago
- The Guardian
In Gaza we watched Iranian missiles go by, heading for Israel. That war is over – it seems ours will never end
Last Tuesday night, Donald Trump announced on social media that Iran and Israel had agreed to a ceasefire, ending what he called a '12-day war'. It was the second war this year, after India and Pakistan's four-day conflict, to start and end under Trump's watch. They followed another, earlier conflict between Lebanon and Israel during President Joe Biden's term. Here in Gaza, all eyes were fixed on the Iran-Israel conflict. Even cut off from the internet, people found ways to follow the news – on the radio, or by catching weak phone signals by climbing to high rooftops or walking near the sea, or just by staying up all night watching the sky, where some of the missiles launched from Iran could be seen from Gaza. Many wondered if Trump, the man who once promised to stop 'endless wars', would seize the moment to stop not only war on Iran but also the genocide in Gaza. For 12 days, we finally witnessed a real power in the world enter a war with Israel, the same country that has starved us, bombed us and killed us. But does that really make any difference for us in Gaza? Even if Israel were bombed by Iran until the last day of our lives, nothing would bring back our beloved ones, our homes, our warm city. Two years of our lives have passed like decades. But in just 12 days, that war was over. Trump declared the strikes a complete success against a 'nuclear threat', even as international inspectors disagreed. The assault on Iran has ended. The assault on Gaza, the tiny coastal strip with no army and no air force, hasn't. Trump has brought no change for us. No relief. Only escalation. In just six months, he has failed – or rather, never even tried – to end the war in Gaza. On the contrary, he has become one of its main enablers, sending Israel all the weapons it needs to keep it going. And yet, he offers statements of optimism, claiming that 'I think great progress is being made on Gaza' and that his special envoy Steve Witkoff had told him 'Gaza is very close.' Similar optimism was expressed one month ago, when Witkoff spoke of having 'very good feelings' about the chances for reaching a temporary ceasefire. A ceasefire that, ultimately, never materialised. I remember the early months of the war when my little sister asked: 'Why do their wars end so quickly? Why is Gaza the exception?' These questions echo through every household in Gaza. Back then, we believed it was just a matter of time; that international law would step in. But over more than 600 days we have seen the same pattern repeat again and again – destruction, death, then negotiations, ceasefire talks, 'breakthroughs', then more deaths. Delegations fly to Doha and return empty-handed. This isn't because peace is impossible. This is because the genocide in Gaza doesn't inflict real political or economic costs on those in power. Unlike Iran, Gaza poses no strategic threat; it cannot block trade routes such as the strait of Hormuz, nor does it have the means to inflict meaningful damage on Israel. The international pressure is weak, mostly limited to statements rather than sanctions, and thus easily ignored. For Israel's leadership, peace in Gaza simply isn't profitable. In fact, continued assault serves political interests, especially those of the prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, who is doing everything he can to avoid early elections while he faces corruption charges, which he denies. We've come to understand the bitter truth: our lives are conditional. Our dreams, our futures – all worthless unless they serve geopolitical interests. Our suffering is tolerated. Our justice, indefinitely delayed. Famine and malnutrition are now widespread. Electricity has been cut for nearly two years. Generations of students have lost access to education. Municipalities have collapsed. The healthcare system is overwhelmed. Daily life has disintegrated. Gaza's streets, once calm, are now haunted by fear. Bombings are no longer the only threat: at night, people face theft, assault or even murder. Lawlessness is growing. Gangs operate openly. Israel shows no interest in restoring order. Chaos serves it better. Look into people's eyes. In everyone, from the smallest child to the oldest grandparent, you'll see blank stares, hollow gazes. Eyes stripped of light. Waiting. Not necessarily for death, but for something to end. Gaza longs for what all people long for – to breathe, to live, for peace. But real peace cannot be declared from podiums while bombs fall from planes. It cannot be promised in speeches while crossings stay closed. It cannot exist without an immediate, unbroken ceasefire. A ceasefire that would allow Gaza's sky at sunset to be dotted with children's kites floating gently over the rubble. For a moment, they would watch them fly and think: maybe not everything up there means death. Maybe, just maybe, there's an angel, too. All we want is what all people want: for this nightmare to end. For warplanes to leave. For tents to become safe, warm homes again. For the soft coastal breeze to blow away the smell of blood. And maybe justice is not scheduled for today. But I still believe: one day, we will see it. Hassan Abo Qamar is a Palestinian writer and journalist based in Gaza Do you have an opinion on the issues raised in this article? If you would like to submit a response of up to 300 words by email to be considered for publication in our letters section, please click here.
