Trump signs order lifting sanctions on Syria

President Donald Trump signed an executive order to formally lift all sanctions on Syria on Monday afternoon. 

"The United States is committed to supporting a Syria that is stable, unified, and at peace with itself and its neighbors," the order stated, while directing the secretaries of State, Commerce and Treasury to relieve sanctions and waive export controls. 

"This is in an effort to promote and support the country's path to stability and peace. The order will remove sanctions on Syria while maintaining sanctions on the former president Assad or his associates, human rights abusers, drug traffickers, persons linked to chemical weapons activities, ISIS and their affiliates, and Iranian proxies," White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters.