President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Monday that removed sanctions on Syria following the fall of the government led by Bashar al-Assad. In December, Abu Mohammad al-Jolani, the founder of al-Qaeda’s Syria affiliate, seized control of Damascus late last year.
The semi-official Rapid Response 47 X account announced the executive order. “President Trump just signed an Executive Order terminating the Syria sanctions program to support the country’s path to stability and peace,” the post explains. “The Order removes sanctions on Syria while maintaining sanctions on Bashar al-Assad, his associates, human rights abusers, drug traffickers, persons linked to chemical weapons activities, ISIS or its affiliates, and Iranian proxies.”
Under Barack Obama, the US launched a proxy war in Syria, attempting to remove Assad from power. The CIA’s covert war involved backing al-Qaeda and ISIS-linked groups against the Syrian government, allied with Iran, Hezbollah and Russia.
While Trump ended the arms shipment to al-Qaeda linked groups during his first administration, he also placed sweeping sanctions on Syria, preventing the country from rebuilding as the war turned into a stalemate. Additionally, Trump kept hundreds of American troops in Eastern Syria, preventing Assad and his allies from retaking valuable territory.
During Joe Biden’s Presidency, Jolani and the jihadist militants under his control were isolated to Syria’s Idlib Province. Last November, his forces launched an offensive against the Syrian government and were able to topple the Assad government in a number of weeks.
During Trump’s first trip to the Middle East, he met with Jolani, who now goes by Ahmed al-Sharaa. During that meeting, the President praised Jolani and remarked on his strong past.
Jolani was a veteran of the Iraq War, fighting for al-Qaeda in Iraq. He formed the al-Qaeda affiliated group in Syria, called the al-Nusra Front. Since Jolani seized power in Syria, the Alawite minority has faced intense persecution, including massacres and forced displacement.
