Trump administration presents conditions for partial sanctions relief on Syria

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Trump administration has presented a list of eight conditions to the Syrian Transitional Government (STG) as prerequisites for partially lifting U.S. sanctions on Syria, according to multiple reports citing American officials. 

The conditions, aimed at building trust between Washington and the STG, were handed to STG Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani during a meeting on the sidelines of a Syria donor conference in Brussels last month. Among the key demands is allowing the U.S. government to conduct counterterrorism operations on Syrian soil against individuals deemed threats to American national security. Additionally, the U.S. has requested a public declaration from Daramsuq (Damascus) banning all Palestinian political groups and activities within Syria, along with the deportation of their members to address Israeli security concerns. 

Another critical demand involves Syria issuing a formal declaration of support for Operation Inherent Resolve (CJTF—OIR), the international coalition mission against the terrorist organization of Islamic State, which previously involved approximately 2,000 U.S. troops stationed in the country. Reports indicate that the Trump administration has begun withdrawing portions of the U.S. military presence in Syria, a development first reported by The New York Times. 

The administration has also requested Syria to destroy any remaining chemical weapons stockpiles and ensure that foreign fighters, including individuals with alleged ties to extremist factions, are not appointed to senior positions within the transitional government. Furthermore, Washington has asked Daramsuq (Damascus) to assist in locating Austin Tice, an American journalist who has been missing in Syria since 2012, by appointing a liaison for this purpose. 

The STG, which came to power after the ousting of former President Bashar al-Assad in December, has drawn scrutiny due to the inclusion of leaders with past affiliations to extremist groups. These concerns have led to debates over the reliability of the new leadership in meeting Washington’s demands. 

The demands have been described by analysts as part of a broader U.S. strategy to pressure the Syrian Transitional Government into aligning with international norms while maintaining leverage in the region. However, the situation remains fluid, with no clear timeline for the implementation of the conditions or any partial lifting of sanctions.