EU suspends range of sanctions against Syria

European Union countries on Monday suspended a range of sanctions against Syria with immediate effect, Reuters writes․

The decision includes restrictions related to energy, banking, transport and reconstruction.

European leaders began rethinking their approach after insurgent forces led by the Islamist Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) ousted former President Bashar al-Assad as president in December.

Meeting in Brussels on Monday, EU foreign ministers agreed to suspend restrictions on the energy sector that covered oil, gas and electricity, and sanctions on the transport sector. They have also lifted asset freezes for five banks and eased restrictions on the Syrian central bank.