The United States Senate has approved the Department of Defense’s general budget for fiscal year 2026, amounting to $914 billion, which includes $130 million in funding for the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and the Free Syria Army (FSA).

The bill passed with 77 votes in favor and 22 against.

The United States provides support to both the SDF and the Free Syria Army as part of its strategy to combat the Islamic State (IS), considering them key partners in the region.

The SDF controls much of northeastern Syria, including most of al-Hasakah and Raqqa provinces, parts of Deir Ezzor, and several villages in eastern Aleppo, with an estimated 100,000 fighters under its command.

The Free Syria Army, meanwhile, is based in the al-Tanf desert (eastern Homs province) near the U.S. military base, receiving direct support from Washington that includes logistical equipment, security and military training, and fighters’ salaries.

The allocated funding for both forces decreased to $130 million in 2005, compared to $147 million in the 2025 budget, and $156 million in 2024.

The U.S. continues to view the Islamic State as an ongoing threat, as the group still carries out attacks—mostly targeting SDF positions in eastern Syria. International and media reports have warned of IS’s resurgence after its territorial defeat in Deir Ezzor in 2019.

US focuses on fighting ISIS in Syria

In a statement issued on July 5, the U.S. Department of Defense (Pentagon) said it had allocated $130 million from the 2026 budget to support the SDF, its affiliated forces, and the Free Syria Army. The Pentagon reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to the “enduring defeat” of ISIS, noting that the group’s reemergence would threaten U.S. national interests, as well as the people of Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon, and global security overall.

Caesar Sanctions Lifted

The budget law approved by Congress also included the removal of the Caesar Act sanctions imposed on Syria since 2020.

Mohammed Alaa Ghanem, a member of the Syrian American Council, stated on X that the Senate passed a clause within the Defense Authorization Act cancelling the Caesar Act.

Another section of the bill contains non-binding conditions requiring the Syrian government to meet a set of benchmarks. Failure to do so would automatically reinstate the sanctions, while Congress would also reconsider reimposing them if no progress is achieved within 12 consecutive months.

The legislation further requires the U.S. administration to submit a report on efforts to reopen the U.S. embassy in Damascus and develop diplomatic relations between Washington and Damascus.

U.S. Representative Joe Wilson expressed gratitude on X that the Senate approved the repeal of the Caesar Act as part of the Defense Authorization Act, stating that “these harsh sanctions were imposed on a regime that fortunately no longer exists,” adding that “Syria’s success now depends on lifting them entirely.”

The Caesar Act, enacted in June 2020, imposed financial sanctions on Syrian officials, businessmen, and any foreign entities dealing with Damascus, as well as freezing reconstruction assistance. It also banned financial and technological support to the Syrian government. The U.S. Federal Register, in its final June 6, 2024 publication (Vol. 89, No. 110), reaffirmed the scope of these restrictions.

US Senate votes to repeal the “Caesar Act” sanctions