UK ends sanctions on Syria defence, interior ministries

Britain lifts asset freezes on Syria’s defence, interior ministries and intelligence agencies- rolling back sanctions from Assad-era crackdown

World

2 min read

The New Arab Staff & Agencies

24 April, 2025

A man stands outside the Defence Ministry's military security headquarters in the Damascus district of Kafr Sousa on December 9, 2024. After the fall of Bashar al-Assad, the Damascus security zone, where people were interrogated, tortured and detained, gives up its secrets.

Britain on Thursday lifted assets freezes on Syria's defence and interior ministries, and a range of intelligence agencies, reversing sanctions imposed during Bashar al-Assad's presidency. [Getty]

The UK government announced on Thursday it was lifting sanctions that were imposed on Syria's interior and defence ministries during the rule of the now-deposed Bashar al-Assad.

"The following entries have been removed from the Consolidated List and are no longer subject to an asset freeze -- Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Defence," the Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation said in a notice.

Sanctions against various media groups and intelligence agencies were also lifted, although Syria's new rulers dissolved the Assad-era spy bodies in January.

Those targeted by the sanctions were "involved in repressing the civilian population in Syria" or had been "involved in supporting or benefitting from the Syrian regime", said the notice.

A notice posted online by the British finance ministry said the Syrian Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Defence and General Intelligence Directorate were among 12 entities no longer subject to an asset freeze.

The notice did not set out reasons for the de-listing.

In March, the government unfroze the assets of Syria's central bank and 23 other entities including banks and oil companies.

The British government has previously stressed that sanctions on members of the Assad regime would remain in place.

The new Syrian government is aiming to persuade Western capitals that the extremist origins of the rebels who toppled Assad in December, after 14 years in charge, are confined to the past, and that crippling international sanctions should be lifted.