Syria: US Congressman Joe Wilson says Caesar Act sanctions may be repealed this month

US Congressman Joe Wilson has told The New Arab’s sister site Al-Araby Al-Jadeed in an exclusive interview that he expects the US House of Representatives to vote for the repeal of the 2019 Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act, which imposed stringent sanctions on Syria, this week.

The measure would then proceed to the Senate for debate, with Wilson expressing strong optimism that the Caesar Act will be permanently repealed within the month.

Wearing a scarf bearing the Syrian independence flag during an event at the US Capitol organised by the Syrian American Council (SAC), Wilson urged members of Congress on Wednesday to end the Caesar sanctions.

He said that the move would help ensure a unified Syrian state would include Druze, Alawites, and Kurds, as well as the majority Sunni Arab population.

A Republican, Wilson praised President Donald Trump for swiftly lifting many of the sanctions on Syria earlier this year, a process that, he noted, typically takes years.

The Caesar Act, named after a Syrian defector who exposed the horrific torture and killing of detainees in the Assad regime’s prisons, imposed sanctions on deposed President Bashar al-Assad and many figures from his inner circle, but also on key Syrian industries.

The government of current Syrian President Ahmed Al-Sharaa, who led the rebel offensive which overthrew Assad in December 2024, has been lobbying for their removal ever since it came to power.

Wilson also voiced opposition to recent Israeli airstrikes in Syria, saying he raised concerns with Syrian officials regarding the ongoing attacks.

He called for Syria’s territorial integrity to be respected, saying: "I opposed the latest strikes, which coincided with my presence in Damascus. It is in everyone’s interest to reduce these attacks. A stable Syria offers real opportunities for business. I told the Israeli Prime Minister that Syria should be given a chance — a position also affirmed by US Ambassador Mike Huckabee. I remain very optimistic."

Israel, however, has continued with frequent attacks and incursions into Syrian territory ever since the fall of the Assad regime. In the most recent attack, on Wednesday, Israeli soldiers abducted seven people from a village in southwestern Syria near the occupied Golan Heights.

Reflecting on his recent visit to Damascus, Wilson stressed the opportunities for reconstruction and the return of refugees. "I want to credit President Donald Trump, who lifted sanctions on Syria overnight. During my visit to Damascus, I saw immense investment opportunities. Some people can already go there to pursue mutual benefit, but lifting sanctions is essential for long-term investment," he said.

Zaid Alloush, the SAC’s Advocacy Director said: "Today, a group of Syrian Americans from across the United States came to Capitol Hill to urge members of Congress to permanently repeal the Caesar Act. Syria needs aid, technology, and investment, yet investors remain hesitant because of the law’s impact. Our community called for its repeal to signal that a new era requires support and cooperation."