US offering conditional partial sanctions relief in Syria: Report

It is reported that the U.S. government is considering offering Syria a plan to partially lift sanctions in exchange for a series of demands. Washington hopes this move will prompt Syria to cooperate with the United States on counter-terrorism, the destruction of chemical weapons, and the prohibition of foreign militants from joining a transitional government.

Reuters, citing six sources from both the U.S. and Syria, stated that the U.S. is also requesting Syria to appoint a liaison to assist in the search for U.S. Marine and journalist Austin Tice, who has been missing for over a decade. In exchange, the Trump administration would extend an existing waiver allowing transactions with Syrian government agencies for at least two years. This extension aims to facilitate essential humanitarian aid and dialogue.

It remains unclear when Syria might meet the conditions set by the United States, and whether the U.S. has established a deadline. Furthermore, Reuters reported that the U.S. will also issue a statement supporting Syria's territorial integrity, emphasizing the importance of stability in the region.

Reportedly, Natasha Franceschi, the U.S. State Department official responsible for Syrian affairs, presented the list of U.S. demands to Syrian Foreign Minister Assad Shibani during the Syria Donors Conference held in Brussels last week. Previously, the U.S. had issued a six-month general license in January of this year to help humanitarian aid enter Syria, but this was insufficient to allow entities such as the Qatari government to transfer funds for Syrian government salaries.

Syrian interim President Ahmed Shala has been calling for the lifting of sanctions on the country in order to attract international investment and begin reconstruction after 14 years of war. Former President Bashar al-Assad fled to Russia after a swift rebel takeover of the capital led by Shala in December of last year. Shala's appointment of 50 officials to key defense posts, including six foreign militants, has raised alarm among many who doubt Shala's plans and fear for the safety of Syria's minorities. This month, in western Syria, hundreds of minority Alawites were killed after Assad loyalists, often also Alawites, attacked the new government's security forces. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio then issued a statement condemning "radical Islamic terrorists, including foreign jihadists."

Shala, previously known as Abu Muhammad al-Julani, is the leader of al-Qaeda's branch in Idlib, northwestern Syria. This region had been rebel-controlled territory since 2015, until the rebel advance that overthrew Assad last December. The situation highlights the complex dynamics and ongoing instability in the region.