Exclusive-Two U.S. lawmakers push for some Syria sanctions relief after Assad's fall

FILE PHOTO: A damaged picture of Syria's Bashar al-Assad lies on the floor inside Qamishli international airport, after Syrian rebels announced that they have ousted Syria's Bashar al-Assad, in Qamishli, Syria December 9, 2024. REUTERS/Orhan Qereman/File Photo

DAMASCUS (Reuters) - Two U.S. congressmen have urged senior American officials to suspend some sanctions on Syria to ease pressure on its shattered economy after the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad, according to a letter dated Dec. 10 and seen by Reuters.

The move is the latest effort in the West to push for easing sanctions after rebels led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a former al Qaeda affiliate, swept into Damascus. A British minister said on Monday that Britain could rethink its designation of HTS as a banned organisation.