Japan signals support to Syria under al-Sharaa, lifts sanctions

Japan on Tuesday said it was lifting partial sanctions on Syria, signaling support to the government of President Ahmad al-Sharaa.

Japan's top government spokesman Kihara Minoru told reporters that many of the entities being removed from the sanctions list “are expected to play a role in Syria's reconstruction,” state-run NHK news reported.

Syria and Japan restored diplomatic ties last December, following a 15-year breakdown, a year after al-Sharaa formed the government following the ousting of Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad in December 2024.

Stability and development in Syria “are directly linked to stability across the entire Middle East,” he said, adding that Tokyo “intends to support the country.”

The decision was made by the Japanese Cabinet after Tokyo had imposed sanctions in 2011 on the al-Assad administration.

“In view of the subsequent developments” in Syria and considering the bilateral relationship between Tokyo and Damascus, the Japanese government ahas nnounced a “partial lifting of the asset freezing and other measures,” Japan’s Foreign Ministry said.

Sixteen of 31 entities, including the Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of Interior, oil companies and financial institutions were removed from the sanctions list.

The ministry said sanctions will remain imposed on 59 individuals and 15 entities.