US President Donald Trump has rejected a request by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu last month to maintain economic sanctions on Syria, according to a report published Wednesday by the Qatari newspaper Al-Araby Al-Jadeed. The report, based on an unnamed "well-informed source," claimed Netanyahu asked Trump not to lift sanctions or back efforts to stabilize Syria, citing fears of a recurrence of the October 7 terrorist attacks by Hamas.
According to the report, the two leaders met in early April at the White House, where Netanyahu expressed concern that Turkey could use Syrian territory as a platform for operations against Israel. He argued that easing pressure on Damascus might embolden hostile actors in the region.
Despite the Israeli plea, Trump announced Tuesday that the sanctions would be lifted, a decision that appears to have already begun reshaping regional dynamics. The US president is has met Wednesday with Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa, also known as Abu Mohammad al-Julani.
In a speech on Tuesday, Trump said: "Rubio will meet with the Syrian foreign minister in Turkey later this week. After discussions with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, President [Recep Tayyip] Erdoğan in Turkey, and others, I've decided to end sanctions on Syria to give them a chance at greatness."
The move sparked celebrations in Damascus. According to Syrian state media, the Syrian pound surged more than 10% in value following Trump's announcement. Prior to the announcement, the exchange rate hovered between 9,500 and 9,700 Syrian pounds to the dollar; it now stands between 8,300 and 8,700.
In Homs, residents reportedly marked the development by waving Syrian and Saudi flags in public celebrations.
