Our Scans · Syria · Weekly Summary

• [New] US President Donald Trump is reportedly planning to sign an executive order that will remove several US sanctions on Syria. Institute for the Study of War
• [New] Until the new government in Damascus or other actors prove they can take on the main U.S. mission in Syria-fighting the Islamic State (IS) - making further reductions could jeopardize U.S. policy goals in Syria and beyond. Counter Extremism Project
• [New] The current situation in Syria adds to the general military conflict in the Middle East as a factor that could ignite the Eastern Mediterranean region. All About Shipping
• [New] The International Coalition confirmed its continued efforts aimed at undermining the capabilities of ISIS mercenaries in Syria, noting that it maintains direct communication with the Syrian Democratic Forces to address potential terrorist threats. ANHA
• The newfound Turkish influence in Damascus has raised Israeli concerns and risked a standoff or worse in Syria between the regional powers. The Verardo Group's Substack
• The United States will allow the Syrian transitional government to integrate foreign fighters into the new Syrian army in order to prevent foreign fighters from joining Salafi-jihadi groups in Syria. Institute for the Study of War
• The removal of international sanctions will promote economic stability in Syria, but there are other factors, such as deep-rooted ethno-sectarian distrust between the Syrian transitional government and minority groups, that continue to threaten internal stability. Critical Threats
• Israel's further efforts to neutralize Syria as a potential threat are part of the general direction of eliminating any threat to date and creating the necessary living space around its borders. All About Shipping
• Since Assad's fall, Israel has launched airstrikes, seized a U.N.-patrolled buffer zone inside Syria and threatened to invade to protect the Druze religious minority after Druze factions clashed with the new Syrian security forces under al-Sharaa. Yahoo News
• ISIS has a vested interest in limiting the transitional government's ability to reconstruct certain areas of Syria because slow reconstruction would create opportunities for ISIS recruitment. Institute for the Study of War
• The current status in Syria is added to the general military conflict not influencing directly the threats in Eastern Mediterranean Sea but as a factor could ignite the Middle East region, affecting directly the East Mediterranean Sea. All About Shipping
• De facto, Turkey envisions a friendly buffer state in Syria's north, securing its borders from Kurdish insurgents and enabling Erdogan to play a pivotal role in Syria's reconstruction. Global Policy Journal
• Expect Saudi Arabia to require that foreign fighters be ejected from senior government roles and demand that Iran is kept out of Syria. Atlantic Council
• Ankara was focused on the threat posed by the Kurdish-run autonomous region in north-eastern Syria, run by the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces, which has ties to the Kurdistan Workers' Party, a group Turkey considers a terrorist organization. Eurasia Review
• Sanctions Relief in Syria: The European Union's and United States' plan to lift economic sanctions on Syria in the coming weeks will help stabilize the Syrian economy, but will not address other sources of potential instability in Syria. Institute for the Study of War
• With determined US backing, the Gulf states can help generate the political momentum for new leadership in Lebanon and Syria to take the risks they need to put their country on a path toward functional, sovereign governance. Middle East Institute
• While international engagement does count for something, Syria's transition has little hope of stabilizing while the vice-like grip of US sanctions continues to hinder reconstruction and economic recovery. Middle East Institute
• The United States will issue a temporary sanctions waiver that covers much of the Syrian economy before the US Congress passes a new law to repeal sanctions targeting Syria. Institute for the Study of War
• The US and the EU have recently indicated that they will lift economic sanctions on Syria to enable its economy to recover. Euronews
• An end to US sanctions on Syria is expected to mark a new era for an economy devastated by 13 years of war, opening the way for investment flows from the Syrian diaspora, Turkey, and Gulf states that back the new government.
• Trump's decision to lift sanctions on Syria puts down a marker that Washington is not only determined to prevent Iran from getting a nuclear weapon, but to check Iranian efforts to try to restore its badly weakened resistance axis aimed at threatening Israel and wider reigonal domination. Atlantic Council
• Syrian Salaries: A Qatari-backed initiative will provide Syria with civil sector salary support after the US Treasury Department reportedly granted Qatar a sanctions exemption. Institute for the Study of War
• The PKK's possible refusal to disarm may result in a Turkish decision to resume attacks on alleged PKK targets in northern Syria, which could further complicate the US-backed Syrian Defence Forces' integration into the Syrian state. Institute for the Study of War

Last updated: 13 June 2025