US Tar also claims to Syria's new Islamist-led leadership

Copyright © HT Digital Streams Limit all rights reserved. Jared Malsin, Michael R. Gordon, Nancy A. Youssef, The Wall Street Journal 6 Min Read 18 Apr 2025, 07:10 AM IST US Set difficult conditions for Syria’s new government in exchange for limited sanctions, excludes Russia. (Beeld: Reuters) Summary The Trump administration wants Damascus to write down extremists and expel Palestinian militants in exchange for a limited relief from sanctions. The Trump administration is threatening to take a hard line with the new Islamic government of Syria, raising claims that undertake extremists and expelling Palestinian militants in exchange for limited relief from sanctions, US officials said. Over the past few weeks, the White House has issued policy guidance in which the Syrian government has called on the Syrian government to take steps that also involve the country’s representation of chemical weapons, several US officials who are familiar with the policy said. The US in return would consider a renewal of a close waiver of sanctions issued by the Biden Administration what was intended to speed up the flow of help to the country, they added. The guidance reflects skepticism among administration officials of the government of Syria, led by former rebel commanders who removed President Bashar al-Assad from power in December and ended the country’s 13-year-old civil war. The lead does not mention Russia, and shows how the Trump administration under Biden facilitates a push to encourage Damascus to get rid of the Kremlin’s military bases in Syria, at least for the time being, as US officials with Moscow negotiate an end to Ukraine conflict. “The United States is currently not recognizing the government of Syria,” a spokesman for the State Department said when asked about the policy notice. “The interim authorities of Syria must fully renounce and suppress terrorism,” she said. The US government labeled the new Syria president, Ahmed Al-Sharaa, a terrorist, a year-old designation related to his past in which he joined the rebellion against US forces in Iraq and later founded a branch of Al-Qaeda in Syria before cutting ties with the group. Many of Syria carry the scars of years of a cruel civil war, also in Damascus. The Biden Administration sent senior officials to meet with Sharaa in December and lifted an amount of $ 10 million that the Federal Bureau of Inquiry previously placed on him. But the Trump administration does not seem willing to go further without extra steps of him and the powers he leads. In March, fighters linked to his powers carried out a suppression that killed members of the Alawite religious minority in response to an attack by former Assad regime loyalists. US defense officials said on Friday that the Pentagon plans to cut the approximately 2000 US forces in Syria by half the coming weeks and consolidate its outposts there. The administration is planning an overview of determining whether more forces should be cut this summer. American forces had the task of preventing Syria from becoming a foothold for extremist groups such as Islamic State. It is not clear where Trump will end up on other elements of US policy against Syria. American envoy Steve Witkoff, a powerful figure in the administration, said last month that Sharaa is “another person than he once was. And people do change. ‘ Important Republican leaders are concerned about the withdrawal of US influence in Syria in a way that can make an opening for Russia and China. Senior US military commanders used a more pragmatic approach to the situation in Syria, which in March helped an agreement to fold a mighty military force of the Kurdish-led military force under the command of the government in Damascus. The Syrian government did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the new US policy requirements communicated to them. The Pentagon decision to remove troops from Syria was reported earlier by the New York Times. Sharaa has worked for years to moderate his image, fighting the Islamic State and forbidting his own group from carrying out attacks abroad. Since the power has taken, Sharaa and his government have worked to gain Western and international acceptance, promised to rule and promise Syria to avoid conflict with Israel. In March, he appointed a new cabinet in which Islamists kept the most important ministries, but also included members of minority groups and civil society leaders. The interests are high for Sharaa. The economy of Syria is struggling and cities of its cities are in ruins after years of war in which Russian Air Force and Iranian militia supported Assad, which bombed its own people. The American and other Western countries have partly sanctioned the government of Assad to punish him for his atrocities. Without a roll -back of US sanctions, it will be difficult to rebuild Syria. The European Union and the United Kingdom have relieved some sanctions in recent months. However, without US support and access to the US financial system, Syria would struggle to pay government workers and launch a reconstruction effort that allows refugees to return and help prevent a resumption of violence in the country. The entrance to a mosque in Damascus. Natasha Hall, a senior fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, said: “There is so much help that is urgently needed to achieve any of these and to secure the country, let alone any development.” Time is running up. ” The recent administration policy guidance contains some requests similar to those under the Biden Administration, including collaboration with the international organization for the ban on chemical weapons to protect the country’s remaining chemical weapons, to ensure highly enriched uranium and appoint a liaison to work to find 14 Americans in Syria. New request wants Syria to prohibit the Palestinian militant groups from working in the country – including funds to raise – and expel members of the groups from the country. The policy is set out, the US would publicly commit itself to the territorial integrity of Syria and consider renewing diplomatic relations and removing terrorist directions from members of the new government, officials said. Under the new policy, the US will also consider expanding existing sanctions issued by the Biden Administration in January, intended to speed up the delivery of humanitarian aid to Syria. The Treasury division granted a waiver in January to aid groups and businesses that offer essential supplies, including electricity, petroleum and natural gas. The offer falls very briefly at a roll -back of sanctions requested by some European officials, regional forces such as Turkey and security analysts in terms of Syria may fall back into violence or drift back under the influence of Russia and other traditional US opponents. Benjamin Fève, a senior research analyst at Karam Shaar Advisory, a consulting firm working on the economy of Syria, said: “This is going to make the situation very complicated, and it will actually only push Syria and the new authorities into the hands of the Russians or even the Chinese. to keep Moscow negotiating his military presence in Syria and sent the shipping of Syrian banknotes to the country in an effort to retain the influence there. Kremlin’s global efforts to project power. Download the Mint News app to get daily market updates. More Topics #Genitstate #Donald Trump Mint Special