The British government has lifted the asset freeze on 12 Syrian entities, including the Syrian ministries of defense and interior, as well as several intelligence agencies.

According to a notice published by the British Ministry of Finance today, Thursday, April 24, the names of the following Syrian entities were removed from the consolidated sanctions list and are no longer subject to asset freezing:

• Ministry of Interior
• Ministry of Defense
• General Intelligence Directorate
• Air Force Intelligence Agency
• Political Security Directorate
• Syrian National Security Bureau
• Military Intelligence Directorate
• Army Supply Bureau
• General Organization of Radio and TV
• Al-Watan Newspaper
• Cham Press TV
• Sama TV

The lifting of the sanctions comes at a time when Britain and European countries are showing leniency in dealing with Damascus, following the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime on December 8, 2024, and the assumption of Ahmed al-Sharaa as President of the transitional phase in the country.

On March 6 of last month, Britain removed 24 Syrian entities from its sanctions list, lifting the freezing of their assets, which included the Central Bank of Syria, the Agricultural Cooperative Bank, the Euphrates Petroleum Company, the Syrian Commercial Bank, the Deir Ezzor Petroleum Company, and two oil companies, Dijla and Ebla.

Britain also lifted sanctions on the General Organization of Tobacco, the Syrian Oil Company, the Mahroukat Company, the Syria Trading Oil Company, and the Post Saving Fund.

The Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs welcomed the British government’s decision to remove 24 Syrian entities from its sanctions list, considering it a positive step that would provide the necessary relief to the Syrian people and contribute to facilitating the economic and political recovery process in the country.

Countries imposed sanctions on Syria, including freezing the funds and economic resources of individuals who participated or supported the repression of civilians in Syria, or who assisted or benefited from Bashar al-Assad’s regime.

Since the outbreak of the Syrian revolution in 2011, sanctions have been a tool for pressuring the previous Syrian regime, driven by opposition movements and individual and collective efforts from human rights and humanitarian organizations. This led to the imposition of sanctions and measures targeting key sectors of the Syrian economy to disrupt regime activities, reduce its revenues, limit Assad’s ability to finance repression, and force him into a political solution that aligns with international resolutions, particularly UN Security Council Resolution “2254.”

Researchers and experts describe the sanctions imposed on Syria as complex, as they were not imposed overnight but were the result of years of development, some of which occurred before the Syrian revolution. However, the most pressing and currently advocated for lifting are those imposed on Syria after the revolution.