U.S: Protecting communities in Syria is condition for continued engagement

Amid escalating attacks on religious and ethnic communities in Syria, U.S. officials have urged the interim government to immediately halt the violence and protect all citizens. They stressed that easing sanctions does not mean overlooking government performance and warned that sanctions could be reimposed if the security situation continues to deteriorate.

17 January, 2026 23:40

NEWS DESK

U.S. Senator Michael McCaul called on Syria’s interim government to make greater efforts to immediately stop acts of violence, in light of the escalating brutal attacks targeting religious and ethnic communities in Syria, including Christians, Druze, and Kurds.

McCaul noted that Congress’s lifting of sanctions under the “Caesar Act” should not be understood as ignoring the government’s performance, but rather as a clear expectation that it work toward building a better future in which all Syrians can live in peace.

In the same context, U.S. Representative Marlin Stutzman said that the responsibility for stopping the violence in Syria lies with the Sharaa government, stressing the need to protect all Syrians from any attacks regardless of their religion.

He added that developments on the ground will determine how the United States approaches Syrian diplomacy in the future, noting that the interim government can request assistance if it needs support to stop the violence, and warning of the possibility of reimposing sanctions.

ANHA