ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The United States defense bill for the upcoming fiscal year includes a provision repealing the Caesar Act sanctions on Syria, the document seen by Rudaw showed on Monday, as Syrian state media reports the provision is unamendable.
The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) published by Congress contains “Sec. 6211. Repeal of Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act of 2019,” which formally terminates the sanctions, affirming the Act "is hereby repealed."
Earlier on Monday, the state-run Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) cited Mohammed Alaa Ghanem, a member of the Syrian American Council (SAC), as stating the repeal clause “has been finalized” and has been approved by both the Senate and House.
“No amendments can be made to this clause,” Ghanem added, describing the repeal as a “long and fierce battle” that has now been “decisively settled.”
The Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act of 2019, or Caesar Act, sanctions the former Syrian government, including ousted dictator Bashar al-Assad, for war crimes against civilians. Signed into law in December 2019, its provisions came into effect on June 17, 2020, with the first round of designations under the Act.
According to Ghanem, the repeal guarantees full removal of the Act before year-end and eliminates any mechanism for its automatic reinstatement. The term “conditions” was removed from the text and replaced with a congressional “expression of hope” that the Syrian government will address issues, including Captagon trafficking and implement the March 10 Agreement to integrate the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).
The earliest vote on the NDAA is expected on Thursday, the Syrian political campaigner said, noting, after which the budget will be sent to President Donald Trump for signature before Christmas.