Gulf countries urge the lifting of sanctions on Syria

The GCC's Secretary General condemned Israel's attacks on Syria and Lebanon

Visitors in al-Hamidiyeh market in Damascus. AFP

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Gulf countries on Thursday urged the lifting of international sanctions on Syria as the new administration in Damascus that replaced the former regime seeks to assert its authority.

The call was issued at the end of an extraordinary meeting for the ministers of foreign affairs of the Gulf Co-operation Council in Kuwait to discuss recent developments in Syria and Lebanon.

The US, the EU, Canada and other countries imposed severe sanctions against the regime of former president Bashar Al Assad in response to his violent crackdown on protests from 2011 onwards and actions in the ensuing civil war. Some western sanctions date back even further, to when Mr Al Assad's father Hafez was in power.

Countries are now considering when to lift restrictions after Hayat Tahrir Al Sham (HTS) led a rebel advance that ended decades of rule by the Assad family. Complicating the matter is HTS's designation as a terror group by the US, UN and other entities.

"To empower Syria economically, the Ministerial Council called for lifting sanctions on it, and called on all partners, countries and concerned organisations to provide all means of support to the brotherly Syrian people," the six Gulf countries said in a statement after the meeting.

The US has imposed sanctions on 718 people and entities in connection to Syria, and the State Department has hinted that it could use those measures to encourage what it considers to be good behaviour from HTS and whatever governing body is formed to lead Syria.

Last week, discussions to possibly lift EU sanctions against Syria were under way but are unlikely to resolve soon, Germany's special envoy to Syria, Stefan Schneck, told The National.

Gulf ministers urged all parties in Syria to "launch a comprehensive national dialogue to achieve the aspirations of the brotherly Syrian people for security, stability, development, and prosperity".

They also issued a firm call for Israel to withdraw from the Syrian lands it recently occupied after taking advantage of a security vacuum following the collapse of the former regime.

“Israel's attacks on Syria and occupation of the buffer zone are a flagrant violation of international laws and Security Council resolutions,” the Secretary General of the Gulf Co-operation Council Jasem Al Budaiwi said.

Since the collapse of president Bashar Al Assad’s regime this month, Israel has bombed hundreds of weapons sites, airbases and naval assets in Syria and sent troops into a buffer zone in the occupied Golan Heights. Israeli officials have called the incursion a limited and temporary measure to ensure the security of Israel’s borders but have not indicated when the troops will be withdrawn.

“We call on the international community to stop Israel's violations and withdraw from all Syrian territories,” stressed Mr Al Budaiwi.

Last week, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said Israeli strikes on Syrian military infrastructure are in breach of the country’s sovereignty after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that his country would remain inside the UN-patrolled buffer zone, established in 1974, “until another arrangement can be found that guarantees Israel’s security”.

Israel now appears to be gearing up for an open-ended occupation of the Syrian territory it invaded, with senior officials hinting that long-term military control of the area is vital for national security.

Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Sharren Haskel described Hayat Tahrir Al Sham leader Ahmad Al Shara, whose troops led the overthrow of Mr Al Assad, as “a wolf in [sheep’s] clothing”, in some of the most direct comments yet from the Israeli government about Syria’s new leadership.

HTS was formerly affiliated with Al Qaeda and is designated as a terrorist organisation by the UN and many governments. Despite statements from its leadership suggesting the group does not want to fight Israeli troops, concerns remain high in Israel that post-Assad chaos in Syria could lead to the emergence of a destabilising government on its borders.

The rebel group has been trying to consolidate its power since the takeover of Damascus on December 8 and has announced plans to form an inclusive administration.

“National reconciliation must be achieved in Syria,” said Mr Al Budaiwi.

In Lebanon, Israel has been accused of violating a truce agreement with Iran's backed militant group Hezbollah since it came into force in November. It is supposed to transition into a permanent ceasefire on January 26, but Israel’s violations continue to hinder the process despite the presence of an overseeing committee led by the US.

On Thursday, the Lebanese army said that “Israeli enemy forces penetrated several points in the areas of Qantara, Adshit Al Qusayr, and Wadi Al Hujayr” in southern Lebanon.

“We condemn the dangerous Israeli attacks on Lebanon,” said Mr Al Budaiwi.

In their statement, the Gulf ministers called for "holding presidential elections as soon as possible" in Lebanon.

Lebanon has been without a president since October 2022. The US, France and other countries have been calling for the election of a new head of state to avoid a power vacuum and help stabilise the country's political life. US envoy Amos Hochstein, who mediated the ceasefire talks between Hezbollah and Israel, said that the election of the president is vital for Lebanon.