US Congress Nearing Extension of Caesar Act Against Syrian Government for Two Additional Years

The Financial Services Committee in the US House of Representatives approved a bill to extend the sanctions imposed on the current Syrian government under the "Caesar Act" for an additional two years, with new conditions added to the law.

31 members voted in favor of the bill, while 24 opposed it, reflecting a clear partisan divide, but its approval in the committee is a significant step towards its final passage in Congress.

The new amendments to the law include provisions that strengthen accountability mechanisms, notably requiring the protection of minorities in Syria and refraining from targeting or arbitrarily detaining them, especially "religious minorities."

The new bill also requires efforts to empty Syrian political prisons and place them under international supervision.

The modified version mandates subjecting the behavior and actions of Syrian authorities to intensive international monitoring during the two-year extension period, with a reassessment of the situation at the end of this period before considering the possibility of lifting or renewing the sanctions.