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US Senators Urge Against Waiving Caesar Sanctions in Northern Syria

A US military vehicle, part of a convoy arriving from northern Iraq, drives past an oil pump jack in the countryside of Syria’s northeastern city of Qamishli on October 26, 2019. (AFP)
A US military vehicle, part of a convoy arriving from northern Iraq, drives past an oil pump jack in the countryside of Syria’s northeastern city of Qamishli on October 26, 2019. (AFP)
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US Senators Urge Against Waiving Caesar Sanctions in Northern Syria

A US military vehicle, part of a convoy arriving from northern Iraq, drives past an oil pump jack in the countryside of Syria’s northeastern city of Qamishli on October 26, 2019. (AFP)
A US military vehicle, part of a convoy arriving from northern Iraq, drives past an oil pump jack in the countryside of Syria’s northeastern city of Qamishli on October 26, 2019. (AFP)

Republican Senators at Congress have warned Joe Biden's administration against lifting any sanctions against the Syrian regime, even though no official moves on the ground have been taken to that end.

The legislative and executive authorities in the US have frequently tussled over the Syria, going back to the term of President Barak Obama. The debates eventually led to the unanimous adoption of the Caesar Act that has outlined American policy over Syria.

Media leaks have, however, revealed that the Biden administration is seeking to waive the Caesar Act in northern Syria under the pretext of improving humanitarian and economic conditions there.

The concern prompted three Republican senators, Joe Wilson, Claudia Tenny and Pat Fallon, to issue a letter to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, asking him to clarify the claims.

They warned against easing sanctions against the regime and regions under its control. "The Caesar Act already provides exemptions for humanitarian relief, in addition to those which already exist in current law," read the letter.

"It is troubling that the administration has reportedly reached a decision to issue a broad geographical waiver while having offered no explanation to Congress for why the existing waiver and license structure is insufficient to achieve US objectives in northern Syria," it continued.

"Why are these waivers necessary when humanitarian assistance is already exempted under the Caesar Act and other laws and the existing authorities include a licensure mechanism?"

"How will the administration guarantee that the Assad regime or its affiliates and front companies will not be able to generate revenues of gain access to foreign currency through these waivers?"

The State Department denied that the administration was seeking to weaken sanctions on the Assad regime and in areas under its control.

A Department spokesperson told Asharq Al-Awsat that the administration will stress going forward in the political process as stipulated in United Nations Security Council resolution 2254.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, they said the administration opposes any reconstruction efforts led by the regime. It will not back down on its "firm" stance over this issue until progress is achieved in the political process.

They stressed that no sanctions will be lifted off Assad and his regime and no waivers will be granted to them.

The spokesperson did not respond to the media leaks or the senators concern that the regime may exploit the lifting of sanctions on regions held by the Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces in northeastern Syria and the Turkish-backed opposition in the northwest.

They instead said the administration supports providing humanitarian aid to Syria through all means, including the cross-border mechanism that was approved by the Security Council. Discussions will continue with all members of the Council over this issue. The mechanism is a guarantee for delivering life-saving aid to Syrians.

Former Syrian diplomat Bassam Barabandi described as "dangerous" the proposal that the administration may lift sanctions.

He explained that some officials in the American administration, who are tasked with Middle East affairs, believe that there can be no solution to wars in countries, such as Yemen and Syria, except in recognizing the de facto powers, even if some regions are run by a terrorist authority.

In remarks to Asharq Al-Awsat, he said the proposal that is now being weighed focuses on the possibility of finding common economic factors between the warring parties in Syria so that they could eventually reach a political solution that takes into account the de facto forces and their interests, even if they are illegal.

This effectively means the economic division of Syria and eventually its political and geographic division, he noted.

This decision coincides with western negotiations with Iran over its nuclear deal that are reaching a "happy ending" and the prices that have to be paid by each party as part of the agreement.

The Monitor was the first to report on the Biden administration's possible sanctions waivers. The Office of Foreign Assets Control waiver on all sanctions for the areas outside the Syrian regime’s control will not cover oil and gas, it said citing sources.

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Arab World

Egypt’s Sisi Urges Trump, Iran to Show Flexibility Before ‘It Is Too Late’

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and his Slovenian counterpart Natasa Pirc Musar meet in Cairo on Tuesday. (Egyptian Presidency)
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and his Slovenian counterpart Natasa Pirc Musar meet in Cairo on Tuesday. (Egyptian Presidency)
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Egypt’s Sisi Urges Trump, Iran to Show Flexibility Before ‘It Is Too Late’

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and his Slovenian counterpart Natasa Pirc Musar meet in Cairo on Tuesday. (Egyptian Presidency)
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and his Slovenian counterpart Natasa Pirc Musar meet in Cairo on Tuesday. (Egyptian Presidency)

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi on Tuesday appealed to the United States and Iran to show flexibility at this stage, stressing the importance of dialogue and mutual understanding “before it is too late” and warning that the alternative would have “catastrophic” consequences for the region.

Speaking at a news conference in Cairo alongside Slovenian President Natasa Pirc Musar, Sisi warned against any threat to Saudi Arabia’s security, reiterating Egypt’s “categorical rejection of any threat to the security and stability of the Kingdom and other Gulf states.”

According to the Egyptian presidency, Sisi’s talks with his Slovenian counterpart, who is making her first visit to Egypt, covered bilateral relations and the latest regional and international developments.

Sisi reaffirmed Egypt’s longstanding position on developments in the region, calling for regional de-escalation and political solutions to prevent the Middle East from sliding into a wider conflict.

He urged the parties involved in the current crisis between Iran and the US to allow room for dialogue and understanding and reach a political agreement that addresses the main demands of all sides.

The Egyptian president stressed the importance of dialogue and consensus “before it is too late.”

“The alternative would have catastrophic repercussions and consequences for the region and the world, which has been suffering successive crises for six years,” he warned.

Sisi appealed to Washington and Tehran to “show the greatest possible flexibility at this stage to find areas of common understanding that would allow the existing dispute to be resolved.”

He also reaffirmed Egypt’s full support for and solidarity with Arab countries, stressing his firm belief that Arab national security is “one indivisible whole.”

Sisi expressed confidence in Trump as “a man of peace who has succeeded in defusing many difficult crises.”

He urged the US president to “make every possible effort to provide mediators with all available forms of support and assistance to reach the best possible settlement, spare the region further suffering and give its peoples hope for a better life.”

Palestinian cause

Sisi stressed that the Palestinian cause “remains the central issue in the Middle East and one of the issues that reflects the international community’s commitment to the principles of justice and international law.”

He stressed the importance of all parties fully implementing the US president’s peace plan for Gaza and ensuring safe access for humanitarian assistance.

He also called for preserving the territorial unity of the Palestinian territories and rejecting any attempts to displace Palestinians from their land.

For her part, Pirc Musar said at the news conference that “peace cannot be achieved in the Middle East without the Palestinian people obtaining their rights.”

She reaffirmed Slovenia’s commitment to its position on the Palestinian issue and to respecting international humanitarian law.

Sisi praised his Slovenian counterpart’s international positions and policies supporting international law and peace, including in Gaza, noting that these positions had always been appreciated.

On bilateral relations, Sisi explained that the talks reflected a shared vision of building on progress made in relations between the two countries in recent years.

“We agreed to continue working to strengthen political consultations, develop economic and investment cooperation, and coordinate on regional and international issues amid the current overlapping crises,” he stated.

Cooperation and partnership

Sisi described Slovenia as an important partner for Egypt in Central Europe and announced an agreement with his counterpart on the need for a qualitative leap in bilateral cooperation.

The two leaders agreed to establish a timetable-based action plan to develop trade and investment cooperation mechanisms and strengthen direct contacts between their business communities.

Priority sectors include energy and related industries, transportation, tourism, culture, telecommunications and digital transformation, with the aim of opening new opportunities for production, investment and trade.

According to the Egyptian presidency, the talks also highlighted the importance of strengthening logistics and maritime transport cooperation, linking Egyptian ports with Slovenia’s Port of Koper and integrating supply chains between the two countries.

Sisi stressed the need to continue strengthening the partnership between Egypt and the European Union, as well as deepening Egyptian-Slovenian cooperation to advance broader Egypt-EU relations.

Former Egyptian Assistant Foreign Minister Ambassador Gamal Bayoumi described calls for de-escalation and peace in the region as essential amid signs of growing regional tensions.

“There is an awareness on the European side of Egypt’s central role in the regional peace process and Cairo’s ability to serve as a trusted mediator for de-escalation, dialogue and regional peace,” he told Asharq Al-Awsat.

Bayoumi added that Egypt and Slovenia share common positions on several regional issues, including the security of waterways, given their importance to trade between the two countries.

He noted that the Slovenian president’s visit demonstrated her commitment to strengthening trade and economic cooperation with Cairo, describing bilateral relations as “historic and a gateway to Egyptian-European relations.”

Bayoumi also pointed to Slovenia’s interest in expanding investment in the Suez Canal region, its expertise in metal industries and its imports of Egyptian food products.

“There are promising opportunities to expand cooperation between the business communities of the two countries,” he remarked.

Arab World

Aoun: Lebanon Can No Longer Accommodate More Displaced Syrians

Syrian refugees at a camp in the town of Saadnayel in Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley last June. (AFP)
Syrian refugees at a camp in the town of Saadnayel in Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley last June. (AFP)
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Aoun: Lebanon Can No Longer Accommodate More Displaced Syrians

Syrian refugees at a camp in the town of Saadnayel in Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley last June. (AFP)
Syrian refugees at a camp in the town of Saadnayel in Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley last June. (AFP)

Although around 700,000 displaced Syrians have returned to their country since the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in late 2024, the influx into Lebanon has continued. More than 854,000 Syrians remain registered with the UN refugee agency as residing in Lebanon, placing a growing burden on a country already grappling with severe financial and economic crises.

Lebanon has therefore made the issue a priority in its relations with Syria. A Lebanese ministerial delegation visiting Damascus on Monday raised the matter with Syrian authorities, urging them to help facilitate returns and provide incentives to encourage them to go back to overcome their fears and concerns.

President Joseph Aoun also addressed the issue, calling for international assistance.

During a meeting Tuesday with Susanne Raab, director general of the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD), Aoun explained that Lebanon was working to return displaced Syrians to their country, saying the political changes in Syria had removed the reasons for their displacement.

He stressed that Lebanon could no longer accommodate more displaced Syrians and noted that contacts with Syrian authorities were continuing to organize their return in stages.

Aoun urged the international community and humanitarian organizations assisting displaced Syrians in Lebanon to provide that assistance in Syria instead, to encourage them to return.

No clear Syrian response

An official Lebanese source said Beirut was seeking Syria’s cooperation in establishing a mechanism for the planned, organized and safe return of displaced Syrians in stages, rather than returning everyone at once.

The source told Asharq Al-Awsat that Lebanon was also asking international organizations to limit funding and assistance currently provided to displaced Syrians to those who return to Syria, on the grounds that the circumstances that originally forced them to leave no longer exist.

Lebanon has yet to receive clear or definitive responses from Syrian authorities to these requests, according to the source, who identified the continued influx of Syrians into Lebanon as a major concern.

“It is true that around 700,000 people have returned to Syria since the fall of the former regime, but at the same time, large numbers of Syrians have entered Lebanon during the same period. This means that return figures alone do not reflect the full picture,” the source added.

UNHCR figures

According to records from the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Lebanon currently hosts 854,633 registered Syrian refugees, along with 12,218 refugees and asylum-seekers of other nationalities.

Official figures also show that approximately 700,000 Syrians registered with UNHCR in Lebanon returned to Syria between December 2024 and the end of September 2026.

A UN-supported voluntary return program was launched in July 2025 to assist Syrians wishing to return home. Since then, 23 organized return trips have taken place, including a convoy that departed from Tripoli last week carrying 61 returnees.

UNHCR spokesperson in Lebanon Dalal Harb explained that the program supports those wishing to return by providing information, legal assistance, transportation and cash assistance through official border crossings.

Returning families receive a one-time cash grant of $100 per returning individual to help cover logistical arrangements associated with their return through official border crossings. Some particularly vulnerable families qualify for an additional one-time payment of $300 per household.

Inside Syria, eligible households among the most vulnerable groups may receive cash assistance of up to $600 per family, depending on an assessment of their circumstances and the program’s established criteria.

‘Syria Is Home’

To help refugees make informed decisions, UNHCR operates an online platform called “Syria Is Home”, which provides practical information on documentation requirements, housing, healthcare, education and return procedures.

UNHCR and its partners inside Syria also offer legal assistance, guidance, counseling and referrals to relevant authorities.

Harb told Asharq Al-Awsat that since the fall of the former regime, “refugees have increasingly expressed their intention to return to their country, whether now or in the near future.”

However, she noted that many refugees remain hesitant to make the decision because of uncertainty surrounding conditions in Syria in both the short and long term.

According to Harb, their main concerns include safety and security, unresolved housing issues, particularly whether they have homes to return to, access to essential services such as education and livelihood opportunities, land and property issues, and the availability of humanitarian assistance after their return.

A national priority

Many believe that the return of Syrian refugees is a priority for the Lebanese government rather than the Syrian government, which is occupied with addressing numerous other challenges.

Syrian writer and political researcher Dr. Maher al-Tamran, however, stressed that “the issue of return must be a Syrian national priority.”

Speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat, Tamran explained that “genuine incentives go beyond facilitating border crossings or providing financial assistance. They begin with ensuring legal security, protecting property rights and providing housing, education, healthcare and employment opportunities.”

Tamran acknowledged that the return issue “exceeds the financial capabilities of both countries,” but emphasized that this “does not absolve them of their political responsibility.”

“Lebanon wants to ease the economic and social burdens resulting from the refugee presence, while Syria needs to regain its human resources. But neither country can achieve sustainable returns without an international partnership,” he explained.

“What is needed is a shift from funding relief to financing recovery through an international fund to reintegrate returnees. Most importantly, assistance must not become a means of pressuring refugees,” he added.

Arab World

Humanitarian, Security Conditions Deteriorate in Gaza as Armed Group Attacks Continue

A young Palestinian boy drags scrap metal against the backdrop of destroyed buildings in Nuseirat on November 2, 2026. (AFP)
A young Palestinian boy drags scrap metal against the backdrop of destroyed buildings in Nuseirat on November 2, 2026. (AFP)
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Humanitarian, Security Conditions Deteriorate in Gaza as Armed Group Attacks Continue

A young Palestinian boy drags scrap metal against the backdrop of destroyed buildings in Nuseirat on November 2, 2026. (AFP)
A young Palestinian boy drags scrap metal against the backdrop of destroyed buildings in Nuseirat on November 2, 2026. (AFP)

Humanitarian and security conditions are worsening in Gaza as Israel tightens restrictions on border crossings and the movement of people and goods, while armed groups backed by the Israeli military press ahead with attacks on the ground.

In a surprise move on Tuesday morning, Israel informed Egyptian and Palestinian coordination officials that it planned to block goods and humanitarian aid arriving through the Rafah crossing between Egypt and Gaza, citing alleged smuggling of banned items, mainly cigarettes, tobacco products and other goods Israel prohibits from entering the enclave.

Israel also abruptly turned back more than 20 patients and 35 accompanying relatives who had left for medical treatment through Rafah, citing security concerns. Hours later, the patients were told they could travel after all.

Israel also maintains tight control over shipments entering through the Kerem Shalom crossing. Supplies remain below levels seen before the latest crisis, which halted the flow of goods into Gaza for a full week before limited deliveries resumed about 10 days ago.

The restrictions have triggered "severe shortages of essential goods, record price increases and a near-total collapse in purchasing power," the Gaza Chamber of Commerce said.

Maher al-Tabbaa, the chamber's director, said Israel was allowing only about 200 types of goods into Gaza under stringent restrictions.

Prices have surged by 500% to 600%, while those of goods barred by Israel have soared by between 2,000% and 3,000%, he told a press briefing.

Armed groups raid displacement camp

Gaza's worsening humanitarian crisis has been matched by deteriorating security, with Israeli airstrikes continuing alongside operations by armed groups based in areas occupied by Israeli forces.

Under a ceasefire agreement based on a plan proposed by US President Donald Trump, a conceptual boundary known as the "yellow line" separates Israeli-occupied territory in eastern Gaza, covering more than 60% of the enclave, from areas to the west controlled by Hamas and other Palestinian factions.

In an operation described as mirroring Israeli military tactics, armed men infiltrated a displacement camp near Abu Hamid roundabout in central-eastern Khan Younis shortly after midnight between Sunday and Monday, under the cover of Israeli drones flying overhead.

The gunmen entered on foot before reinforcements arrived in four-wheel-drive vehicles, allowing them to seize control of the camp and surround it.

They then ordered several people to surrender over loudspeakers, only to discover that none of those sought were there, a source on the ground told Asharq Al-Awsat.

Three sources and eyewitnesses living near the camp said the gunmen searched tents and opened fire, terrifying residents, particularly women and children.

They abducted more than 35 members of the Barbakh family, including teenage boys, and took them to areas under their control in eastern Khan Younis, the sources said.

More than 10 hours later, the armed groups released all but four of those abducted, keeping the four young men for questioning.

A source on the ground quoted some of those released as saying they had been interrogated by Israeli officers, not the armed men who had handed them over to Israeli forces stationed nearby.

A source from a Palestinian faction in Khan Younis said the raid was intended to "spread chaos and flex the muscles" of armed groups backed by the Israeli military.

Another source said the operation could be a prelude to an Israeli advance aimed at expanding the territory under its control and pushing the yellow line farther west.

The boundary lies just a few hundred meters from the camp, the source said, pointing to similar Israeli advances in other parts of Gaza.