Syria FM Says Sanctions Relief Shows 'International Will'

A demonstrator waves the Syrian opposition flag, also known as the revolution flag, during a gathering with other supporters and members of the Syrian community called by the Syria Solidarity Campaign group in Trafalgar Square, central London, on December 8, 2024, to celebrate the fall of the Assad regime. (AFP)
A demonstrator waves the Syrian opposition flag, also known as the revolution flag, during a gathering with other supporters and members of the Syrian community called by the Syria Solidarity Campaign group in Trafalgar Square, central London, on December 8, 2024, to celebrate the fall of the Assad regime. (AFP)
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Syria FM Says Sanctions Relief Shows 'International Will'

A demonstrator waves the Syrian opposition flag, also known as the revolution flag, during a gathering with other supporters and members of the Syrian community called by the Syria Solidarity Campaign group in Trafalgar Square, central London, on December 8, 2024, to celebrate the fall of the Assad regime. (AFP)
A demonstrator waves the Syrian opposition flag, also known as the revolution flag, during a gathering with other supporters and members of the Syrian community called by the Syria Solidarity Campaign group in Trafalgar Square, central London, on December 8, 2024, to celebrate the fall of the Assad regime. (AFP)

Syria's foreign minister said on Tuesday that the lifting of sanctions on his country showed an "international will" to support Damascus, after EU countries agreed to end the bloc's economic sanctions.

In a press conference in Damascus alongside his Jordanian counterpart, Asaad al-Shaibani said that "lifting sanctions expresses the regional and international will to support Syria", adding that "the Syrian people today have a very important and historic opportunity to rebuild their country".

"The plan today is to benefit from the lifting of sanctions. Anyone who wants to invest in Syria, the doors are open; anyone who wants to cooperate with Syria, there are no sanctions," he added, AFP reported.

Shaibani's statement came after European diplomats said in Brussels that the EU had given the green light to lifting all economic sanctions on Syria in an attempt to support the country's reconstruction following the December overthrow of longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad.

EU foreign ministers are expected to officially announce their decision later on Tuesday.

The move would follow US President Donald Trump's announcement last week that he was waiving sanctions on the war-torn country.

Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi congratulated Shaibani on the developments, saying Syria was now "in a new phase, and Syria's success requires giving it a chance to succeed".

Lifting sanctions would provide the Syrian government with "the capabilities it needs to serve its people and will allow the private sector in all countries of the world to work towards that", Safadi said.

The EU had already suspended some restrictions on Syria's key economic sectors in February.

Officials said these measures could be reimposed if Syria's new leaders do not fulfil their promises to respect minority rights and move towards democracy.



Houthis in Yemen Say They Won’t End Support for Gaza

 Houthi supporters chant slogans during a weekly anti-US and anti-Israel rally in Sanaa, Yemen, Friday, June 13, 2025. (AP)
Houthi supporters chant slogans during a weekly anti-US and anti-Israel rally in Sanaa, Yemen, Friday, June 13, 2025. (AP)
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Houthis in Yemen Say They Won’t End Support for Gaza

 Houthi supporters chant slogans during a weekly anti-US and anti-Israel rally in Sanaa, Yemen, Friday, June 13, 2025. (AP)
Houthi supporters chant slogans during a weekly anti-US and anti-Israel rally in Sanaa, Yemen, Friday, June 13, 2025. (AP)

A top leader of the Iran-backed-Houthi militias in Yemen said they will keep up their support for Palestinians in the Gaza Strip until Israeli “aggression stops, and the siege is lifted.”

“Our operations in support of Gaza will not cease, no matter the sacrifices,” said Mahdi al-Mashat in a statement Wednesday.

The Houthis are the last militant group in Iran’s self-described “Axis of Resistance” that is capable of regularly attacking Israel.

They have been firing long-range missiles at Israel in the months since it resumed the war in Gaza, setting off air raid sirens but generally causing few casualties. They have also been attacking shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.