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Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa on Friday celebrated the permanent lifting of American sanctions against Syria, marking what he described as the end of a period of suffering for the Syrian people and opening the door to economic reconstruction after years of international isolation.
In his first post on the social media platform X, Sharaa thanked the United States, Türkiye, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar for their support, singling out U.S. President Donald Trump for "responding to the call of the Syrian people." The Syrian leader addressed his nation in a recorded video, declaring Friday as "the first day that Syria is without sanctions."
The U.S. Congress on Wednesday permanently ended the sanctions imposed on Syria under former President Bashar al-Assad, who was ousted in December. Trump signed the $901 billion 2026 National Defense Authorization Act, which included provisions eliminating the restrictive measures.
The Caesar Act, named after an anonymous photographer who documented atrocities in Assad's prisons, had severely restricted investment in Syria and effectively cut the country off from the international banking system. The sanctions had been in place for years as part of international pressure on the Assad regime.
Sharaa had actively sought a permanent end to the sanctions rather than temporary suspensions, concerned that keeping the measures on the books would deter businesses wary of legal risks in the United States, the world's largest economy. Trump had previously suspended the implementation of sanctions twice in response to requests from Saudi Arabia and Türkiye, both allies of Syria's new government.
In his message, Sharaa expressed gratitude to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for their support. He also thanked Arab, Islamic, and European nations that stood with Syria during what he called the revolutionary period.
"Dear Syrian people, today is your day. The period of suffering is behind us," Sharaa said. "Hand in hand, we will build together until we elevate this nation to the highest ranks."
The Syrian president honored those who endured hardships during the sanctions era, stating: "I thank those who drowned at sea, those whose breath was taken by chemical weapons, those who were displaced, and everyone who resisted with patience."
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Syria's foreign ministry issued a statement Friday welcoming the sanctions removal, calling it "an entrance to the phase of reconstruction and development." The ministry urged "all Syrians in the country and abroad to contribute to national recovery efforts."
Sharaa, a former jihadist who now leads Syria's new government, thanked members of the U.S. Congress for recognizing the sacrifices of the Syrian people over what he described as 14 years of endurance under the sanctions regime.
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