U.S. to ease aid restrictions for Syria in limited show of support for new government

The Biden administration plans to announce Monday it is easing restrictions on humanitarian aid for Syria, a move to speed delivery of basic supplies without lifting sanctions that block other assistance to the new government in Damascus.

- Alexander Ward

The decision underscores the White House's wariness about removing the broad sanctions on Syria until the direction taken by its new leaders, led by a group the U.S. labels a terror organization, becomes clearer.

The limited step approved by the administration over the weekend authorizes the Treasury Department to issue waivers to aid groups and companies providing essential services, such as water, electricity and other humanitarian supplies, officials said.

Available initially for six months, the waiver would free aid suppliers from having to seek case-by-case authorization, but it comes with conditions to ensure Syria doesn't misuse the supplies, the officials said.

The U.S. has already dropped a $10 million bounty on Abu Mohammed al-Jawlani, the Islamist leader of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, or HTS, the Sunni Islamist group that began as an offshoot of al Qaeda and led the assault that toppled the Assad regime.