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U.S. lifts two restrictions on arms sales and military financing for Syria
The United States lifted the final two restrictions on arms sales to Syria and military financing for the country on September 16, 2026. The decision does not mean Washington will directly sell arms or provide financing in these areas; it only ends enforcement of the relevant sanctions.
The U.S. administration lifted the final two sanctions restricting the sale of defense articles to Syria and the provision of military financing. The decision took effect on September 16, 2026.
According to a notice published by the U.S. Department of State in the Federal Register under number 2026-18918, the measure was taken under a 1991 law aimed at combating chemical and biological weapons.
The U.S. president had granted an exemption on June 30, 2025, from sanctions imposed on Syria over the Bashar al-Assad administration's use of chemical weapons. However, the two restrictions on arms sales and military financing remained in place.
On August 20, 2026, the U.S. deputy secretary of state responsible for arms control and international security determined that lifting the remaining restrictions was necessary to protect U.S. national security interests.
Provisions lifted
The new decision ended enforcement of the provision barring the sale of defense articles to Syria and the provision of design and construction services in the defense sector. It also lifted the restriction preventing the issuance of licenses for exports to Syria of items included on the U.S. Munitions List.
The measure also covers the provision that halted all forms of foreign military financing for Syria.
However, the official notice does not mean that the United States will sell arms to Syria or provide military financing to the country. The decision only removes the two sanctions that prohibited arms sales and military financing channels under the relevant law.
Washington's sanctions measures
The latest measure continued steps to reduce sanctions and restrictions against Syria. On August 24, 2026, the U.S. departments of State and the Treasury removed Syria's designation as a state sponsor of terrorism.
Washington also removed Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham's designation as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist, taking the group off the sanctions list of the Office of Foreign Assets Control.
Following this step, the same office also revoked Syria-related General License No. 25. The license had authorized transactions that were otherwise prohibited because of the group's role in the Syrian government, and it was deemed unnecessary after the new measures.
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