Fact Check: The U.S. plans to lift sanctions on Syria's interim government despite ties to Al Qaeda.

Fact Check: "The U.S. plans to lift sanctions on Syria's interim government despite ties to Al Qaeda."

What We Know

The claim that the U.S. plans to lift sanctions on Syria's interim government is supported by recent actions taken by the Trump administration. On June 30, 2025, President Trump signed an executive order terminating the Syria sanctions program, which included lifting sanctions on various entities associated with the interim government while maintaining sanctions on Bashar al-Assad and his close associates, as well as individuals linked to terrorism and human rights abuses (source-1). The Treasury Department subsequently issued General License (GL) 25, which authorized transactions previously prohibited under the Syrian Sanctions Regulations, effectively allowing new investments and economic activities in Syria (source-2).

However, the claim that this lifting of sanctions occurs despite ties to Al Qaeda is more complex. A recent United Nations report indicated that there are no active ties between Al Qaeda and the Islamist group Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which currently leads Syria's interim government (source-6). This suggests that while there may have been historical associations, current evidence does not support ongoing connections that would impede the lifting of sanctions.

Analysis

The lifting of sanctions on Syria's interim government is indeed a significant policy shift by the U.S. government, aimed at supporting a stable and unified Syria. The executive order and subsequent Treasury actions reflect a strategic decision to re-engage with Syria economically, contingent on the new government's commitment to not harbor terrorist organizations (source-1).

However, the assertion that this action is taken "despite ties to Al Qaeda" requires careful scrutiny. The U.N. report's conclusion that there are no active ties between Al Qaeda and HTS in 2025 (source-6) undermines the premise of the claim. While HTS has previously been linked to extremist ideologies, the current lack of evidence for active ties suggests that the U.S. decision to lift sanctions may not be as controversial as implied.

Moreover, the credibility of the sources involved is generally high, with official government releases and reputable news outlets providing the information. However, the political context surrounding these decisions, particularly under the Trump administration, may introduce biases that should be considered when evaluating the motivations behind the sanctions relief.

Conclusion

The claim that the U.S. plans to lift sanctions on Syria's interim government despite ties to Al Qaeda is Partially True. While it is accurate that the U.S. is lifting sanctions, the assertion of ties to Al Qaeda is not supported by current evidence, as recent reports indicate no active connections. Therefore, while the lifting of sanctions is indeed happening, the context of alleged ties to terrorism is misleading.

Sources

1. Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Provides for the Revocation of Syria Sanctions
2. Treasury Issues Immediate Sanctions Relief for Syria
3. Syria Sanctions - United States Department of State
4. Syria: Transition and U.S. Policy
5. Trump Lifts Sanctions on Syria, Tightening His Embrace of Its Government
6. UN report sees no active Syrian state links to Al Qaeda
7. Trump formally orders lifting of Syria sanctions
8. U.N. Report Shows No Active Al Qaeda Ties to Syria’s HTS