Lift the Caesar Act sanctions on Syria

OPINION:

Walking the streets of Damascus, Americans are met with deep gratitude for helping rid Syria of Bashar Assad’s brutal regime.

At a pivotal moment in 2019, Congress passed the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act, a viselike instrument designed to pressure Mr. Assad. The goal was simple: to squeeze Mr. Assad and his inner circle with sanctions until they suffocated. It worked. After 14 years of civil war, the dictator and his family fled to Russia on Dec. 8 under the cover of darkness.

Nine months later, Syria is engaged in the monumental tasks of stabilizing and reengaging with the world. There is optimism, but also enormous challenges: a weak army struggling to contain sporadic violence, a fragmented political opposition, massive rebuilding needs and extreme poverty affecting 90% of the population.

Geopolitical fault lines compound the problem, as the United States, China, Russia and Turkey compete for influence alongside rising Gulf powers and the crumbling autocracy of Iran, Mr. Assad’s longtime patron. In this volatile environment, sanctions remain a critical factor in recovery.

Meant to weaken governments, sanctions too often suffocate the very people they are intended to protect. In Syria, the Caesar Act shuttered markets, blocked medical supplies and sent inflation soaring. Today, American citizens and companies are eager to help the country recover. Yet one decisive obstacle remains: the fear that sanctions make involvement too risky.

President Trump recognized this. In May, after high-stakes meetings with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Mr. Trump announced the lifting of most sanctions.

This followed a crucial meeting with Syria’s transitional president, Ahmad al-Sharaa, the former leader of Hayat Tahrir al Sham, which fought Mr. Assad during the war. Although questions remain about Mr. al-Sharaa’s past, his public backing from the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia gave Mr. Trump confidence to rethink America’s Syria policy, which included removing HTS from the U.S. list of foreign terrorist organizations.

These decisions were steps forward, but more is needed. The Caesar Act remains law, and Congress must repeal it. Only then can America shift from a policy of punishment to one of engagement, allowing Syria to begin reconstruction in earnest.

In April, the Syrian American Alliance for Peace and Prosperity organized an unofficial congressional delegation to Syria led by Rep. Cory Mills, Florida Republican, and Rep. Marlin Stutzman, Indiana Republican. They met with Mr. al-Sharaa and, upon their return, called for the immediate lifting of the sanctions.

In August, Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, New Hampshire Democrat and ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Rep. Joe Wilson, South Carolina Republican and a senior member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, led the first official visit to Damascus. Joined by Tom Barrack, the Trump administration’s special envoy for Syria, they met with Mr. al-Sharaa for substantive talks on security, reconstruction, inclusive governance and sanctions.

Ms. Shaheen and Mr. Wilson returned with a clear message: Sanctions are a sledgehammer; what Syria needs now are scalpels. To achieve this, they have introduced legislation to dismantle the Caesar Act, are pressing hard on Capitol Hill and are gaining momentum by the day.

Washington can repeal the Caesar Act and still target war criminals: Mr. Assad, his associates, the Islamic State group and Iranian-backed militias. It can freeze illicit assets, support counterterrorism, back civil society and monitor Syria’s efforts to normalize relations with Israel, all while letting ordinary Syrians rebuild.

Lifting sanctions is morally right and strategically smart. It would allow the U.S. to reengage not through endless aid but through private investment from Syrian Americans and regional partners. It would also counter Iran and Russia’s influence.

Minority groups — including Assyrians, Armenians, Druze, Alawites and Kurds — will benefit as well. Long targeted by Mr. Assad and devastated by war, these communities have been disproportionately harmed by sanctions. They are vocal in supporting the Caesar Act’s repeal so they can rebuild their lives, recover their cultural heritage and contribute to Syria’s future.

Repealing the Caesar Act would lift a burden and give Syrians the chance to recover while giving America the chance to lead in the Middle East with vision, strength and a lighter touch. Sanctions broke Mr. Assad; lifting them can help Syria flourish. The choice is before Congress, and the world is watching.

• George Stifo, a U.S. citizen born in Syria, serves on the advisory board of the Syrian American Alliance for Peace and Prosperity and is a member of the executive office of the Assyrian Democratic Organization. He has long advocated for Syria’s minority communities and played a leading role in political organizing efforts against Bashar Assad during the Syrian war.