U.S. Lifts Last Arms and Military Financing Restrictions on Syria

ARK News.. The United States has lifted the last restrictions on arms sales and military financing imposed on Syria under the 1991 Chemical and Biological Weapons Control and Warfare Elimination Act in a further step toward easing restrictions on Damascus following the country’s political transition.

The U.S. decision removes the final two sanctions that remained in place under the law, lifting the legal prohibition on U.S. arms sales to Syria and foreign military financing for the country. However, the measure does not amount to a new arm deal or the provision of new military financing to Damascus.

The decision terminates restrictions on foreign military financing for Syria under the U.S. Arms Export Control Act and removes the prohibition on the sale or export licensing of U.S. defense articles, defense services, and related design and construction services to Syria under that framework.

The move lifts the final two restrictions imposed on Syria under the 1991 Chemical and Biological Weapons Control and Warfare Elimination Act. However, it does not mean that all U.S. regulatory restrictions on defense-related exports to Syria have been removed. Other licensing requirements and controls under U.S. defense trade regulations remain in effect.

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