One year ago, the Syrian people achieved what seemed impossible: after nearly 14 years of brutal conflict and five decades of dictatorship, they ousted Bashar al-Assad's regime and began a new era. Assad's legacy is devastating, with over 500,000 killed, 13 million displaced, a torture-based prison system, and an economy so shattered that over 90% of the population lives in poverty.
This past August, we witnessed the civil war's destruction firsthand in Damascus. While meeting with President Ahmed al-Sharaa, his cabinet, and leaders from Syria's diverse religious and ethnic groups, we also saw something remarkable: Syrians viewing this moment as a unique chance to rebuild their nation and reshape the region for the better.
The Threat of Sanctions
That opportunity is now threatened by U.S. sanctions, initially intended to pressure Assad to stop brutalizing his people. These sanctions now punish the victims of Assad, who are striving to rebuild their lives. Without a change in course, Syria's suffering and the progress its people have made could be lost.
The future of Syria is crucial not only for its people but also for the United States. After decades of aligning with adversaries and being a , Syria has the potential to become a prosperous member of the international community. This would benefit U.S. trade, national security, and regional partners such as Israel, Turkey, Jordan, Lebanon, and Iraq.
However, rebuilding a country torn apart by civil war and largely in ruins is a monumental task. Terrorist groups like ISIS and malicious actors like Iran and Russia will seize any opportunity to regain influence. Just recently, U.S. Central Command reported that ISIS killed three American personnel in Syria, demonstrating its continued threat. Therefore, Syrian security forces must be prepared to combat terrorism and prevent these actors from launching operations within the country.
The Path to Recovery
Syrians are facing crumbling infrastructure, food insecurity, lack of reliable medical care, extreme dangers from land mines and unexploded bombs, and an economy struggling to connect to the world due to lingering sanctions. The United Nations estimates that Syria will require over $200 billion for reconstruction over many years to return to its pre-war state.
Syria needs a genuine promise of a better future to forge a new path. That's why we both championed the repeal of the Caesar Act, which imposed severe sanctions on the Assad regime. Despite policy disagreements on other matters, we are united on this issue.
The comprehensive sanctions regime imposed on Assad is now isolating Syria, hindering efforts to stabilize, recover, and build representative institutions. The previous administration worked to ease some sanctions by providing temporary six-month waivers of the Caesar Act. However, private investors and regional partners cannot justify significant investment without longer-term assurances than these waivers provide. Therefore, Congress must repeal the Caesar Act now.
Building a Better Future
Repealing these sanctions will empower Syrians to meet the demands placed on them: building the capacity to find and destroy chemical weapons, stopping the illegal drug trade, eliminating ISIS, and protecting all Syrian citizens equally. The U.S. special envoy for Syria has demonstrated how sustained diplomatic engagement can achieve significant results. Without additional capacity, we are asking them to do the impossible. We have numerous tools to ensure Syria continues to progress in areas such as human rights, democracy, transitional justice, and dialogue among all Syrian communities—tools used daily in dealing with non-sanctioned states. These tools include:
- Capacity-building for internal security and civilian police
- Reintegration assistance for returning refugees
- Support for Syria's emerging civil society organizations
FAQs
How are U.S. sanctions impacting Syria's recovery efforts after the civil war?
U.S. sanctions, initially aimed at the Assad regime, are now hindering Syria's reconstruction by isolating the country and preventing investment needed to rebuild infrastructure, address food insecurity, and improve medical care. The sanctions make it difficult for Syria to connect to the global economy.
What is the Caesar Act, and why are some advocating for its repeal?
The Caesar Act imposed severe sanctions on the Assad regime. Some are advocating for its repeal because they believe the sanctions are now hurting the Syrian people and hindering efforts to stabilize the country and build representative institutions.
What are the potential benefits for the U.S. if Syria recovers and becomes a stable nation?
A stable and prosperous Syria could benefit U.S. trade, national security, and regional partners. It could also help counter the influence of terrorist groups like ISIS and malicious actors like Iran and Russia in the region.
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