Trump lifts bulk of US sanctions against Syria

US President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Monday to end the US sanctions programme on Syria. He had initially made the surprise announcement during a speech in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in May, and also met with interim Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa while there.

"This is in an effort to promote and support the country’s path to stability and peace," White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters ahead of the signing. 

"The order will remove sanctions on Syria while maintaining sanctions on the former President Assad, his associates, human rights abusers, drug traffickers, persons linked to chemical weapons activities, ISIS and their affiliates, and Iranian proxies," she added.