US, UAE Discuss Lifting Syria Sanctions in Israel-Lebanon Deal if Assad Cuts Ties with Iran, Hezbollah

Dec 2, 2024, 12:22 PM

The United States and the United Arab Emirates have discussed the potential lifting of sanctions on Syria. According to sources cited by Reuters, the proposal hinges on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad distancing his government from Iran and halting the supply of weapons to Hezbollah. The discussions reportedly aim to reduce Hezbollah's influence in the region as part of a broader Israel-Lebanon deal, but the strategy has faced criticism, with some describing it as foreign policy malpractice. Critics argue that Assad, seen as closely aligned with Iran, is unlikely to act against Tehran’s interests.