US Congress moves toward repealing Caesar Act sanctions on Syria

WASHINGTON, United States (MNTV) — The U.S. House of Representatives is preparing to consider a draft of the Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that includes a provision to repeal the Caesar Act sanctions on Syria.

The proposed measure would formally rescind the 2019 law that imposed sweeping secondary sanctions on entities doing business with the Syrian government, marking a potential major shift in US policy toward Damascus.

Legislative text in the draft NDAA explicitly states that “The Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act of 2019… is hereby repealed.”

The Caesar Act was introduced to penalize the government of Bashar al-Assad for widespread human rights abuses and the use of chemical weapons during the Syrian conflict. Its repeal would remove one of the most significant legal barriers to international economic engagement with Syria.

For the repeal to become law, the broader defense bill must be approved by the House of Representatives and signed by the US president.

The sanctions had blocked both US and foreign companies from participating in Syria’s reconstruction and economic recovery.

The move comes amid Syria’s changing political landscape following the ouster of Assad and the formation of a transitional administration under President Ahmad al-Sharaa.

The potential lifting of sanctions could significantly affect regional stability, economic recovery, and the policy calculations of neighboring countries, including Türkiye, which maintains a strong interest in Syria’s future and the return of refugees.