This step comes despite the Syrian government being headed by President Ahmed al-Sharaa, whose former group Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) remains a proscribed terrorist organization in the UK. Sharma recently urged Western nations to lift sanctions imposed under the previous Assad regime, arguing they targeted "crimes committed by the previous regime." This follows the UK's significant decision in March to unfreeze the assets of 24 Syrian entities, including the Central Bank, a move that carries significant weight in the international community.
While this is a notable policy shift for Britain, analysts caution that its immediate impact may be limited without corresponding action from the United States. The potential consequences of this decision could have far-reaching implications for the region.
The US maintains sanctions contingent on reforms. Washington reportedly presented demands to Damascus in March, including banning Palestinian armed groups and allowing US counter-terrorism operations to ease Israeli concerns. Syria appears to be responding, recently arresting two senior Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) officials, an act PIJ condemned. The arrests occur amid ongoing Israeli military actions in Syria since Assad's fall, highlighting the ongoing tensions in the region.