Senate panel leaders back Trump’s lifting of sanctions on Syria

Senate Foreign Relations Committee leaders expressed bipartisan support for President Donald Trump’s decision to lift long-standing U.S. sanctions on Syria, aiming to provide the country’s new government a fresh start after years of civil war. The move followed Trump’s meeting with Syria’s new president, Ahmad al-Sharaa, who previously led a rebel coalition against Bashar Assad’s regime.

Committee Chairman Jim Risch initially had concerns about al-Sharaa’s past ties to an al-Qaeda offshoot but noted positive signals from the new Syrian government. Meanwhile, Ranking Member Jeanne Shaheen appreciated steps taken by Syria to address issues like chemical weapons and drug trafficking.

The lifting of sanctions, imposed during the Obama administration, was seen as an opportunity to deny adversaries like Iran and Russia a foothold in Syria. Questions arose during a hearing regarding Trump’s acceptance of a luxury jet from Qatar, with concerns raised about the legality and ethics of such a gift.

Overall, the committee approved several diplomatic nominations, with a focus on rebuilding relations with Syria and addressing key regional issues.