US Code

Public Law 119-111 (09/18/2026)

22 U.S.C. § 8791

Imposition of sanctions with respect to certain persons who are responsible for or complicit in human rights abuses committed against citizens of Syria or their family members

Section text and notes

(a)

In general

The President shall impose sanctions described in subsection (c) with respect to each person on the list required by subsection (b).

(b)

List of persons who are responsible for or complicit in certain human rights abuses

(1)

In general

Not later than 120 days after , the President shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a list of persons who are officials of the Government of Syria or persons acting on behalf of that Government that the President determines, based on credible evidence, are responsible for or complicit in, or responsible for ordering, controlling, or otherwise directing, the commission of serious human rights abuses against citizens of Syria or their family members, regardless of whether such abuses occurred in Syria.

(2)

Updates of list

The President shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees an updated list under paragraph (1)—
(A)
not later than 300 days after , and every 180 days thereafter; and
(B)
as new information becomes available.
(3)

Form of report; public availability

(A)

Form

The list required by paragraph (1) shall be submitted in unclassified form but may contain a classified annex.

(B)

Public availability

The unclassified portion of the list required by paragraph (1) shall be made available to the public and posted on the websites of the Department of the Treasury and the Department of State.

(4)

Consideration of data from other countries and nongovernmental organizations

In preparing the list required by paragraph (1), the President shall consider credible data already obtained by other countries and nongovernmental organizations, including organizations in Syria, that monitor the human rights abuses of the Government of Syria.

(c)

Sanctions described

50 U.S.C. 1701The sanctions described in this subsection are sanctions pursuant to the International Emergency Economic Powers Act ( et seq.), including blocking of property and restrictions or prohibitions on financial transactions and the exportation of property, subject to such regulations as the President may prescribe.

Pub. L. 112–158, title VII, § 702126 Stat. 1265 (, , .)

Termination of Section

section 8795 of this titleFor termination of section, see .

Editorial Notes

References in Text

Pub. L. 95–22391 Stat. 1626 section 1701 of Title 50The International Emergency Economic Powers Act, referred to in subsec. (c), is title II of , , , which is classified generally to chapter 35 (§ 1701 et seq.) of Title 50, War and National Defense. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under and Tables.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Short Title

section 701 of Pub. L. 112–158section 8701 of this titleFor short title of this subchapter as the “Syria Human Rights Accountability Act of 2012”, see , set out as a note under .

Report on Syria Civilian Protection

Pub. L. 119–60, div. H, title LXXXIII, § 8369(b)139 Stat. 1905

“(b)

Report .—

Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act [], and every 180 days thereafter for the following 4 years, the President shall submit to the Committees on Foreign Affairs, Financial Services, and Judiciary of the House of Representatives and the Committees on Foreign Relations and Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate an unclassified report, with a classified annex if necessary, that certifies whether the Government of Syria—
“(1)
is taking concrete and tangible action to eliminate the threat posed by ISIS and other terrorist groups, including Al Qaeda and its affiliates, in partnership with the United States, and prevent an ISIS resurgence;
“(2)
has removed, or is taking steps to remove, foreign fighters from senior roles in the Government of Syria, including those in the state and security institutions of Syria;
“(3)
is upholding religious and ethnic minority rights in Syria, including with respect to freedom of worship and belief, and allowing for fair and equitable representation in the government, including ministries and parliament;
“(4)
is not taking unilateral, unprovoked military action against its neighbors, including the State of Israel, and continues to make progress towards international security agreements, as appropriate;
“(5)
is taking tangible and credible steps to implement the , agreement as negotiated between the Government of Syria and the Syrian Democratic Forces including commensurate security force integration measures and political representation;
“(6)
is taking steps to effectively combat money laundering, terrorist financing, and the financing of proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, in line with international standards, and not knowingly financing, assisting (monetarily or through weapons transfers), or harboring sanctioned individuals or groups (including foreign terrorist organizations and specially designated global terrorists) that are harmful to the national security of the United States or allies and partners of the United States in the region;
“(7)
is actively prosecuting those that have committed serious abuses of internationally recognized human rights since , including those responsible for the massacre of religious minorities; and
“(8)
is taking verifiable steps to combat the illicit production and international illicit proliferation of narcotics, including Captagon.
“(c)

Notification to the Government of Syria .—

The President shall inform the Government of Syria of the findings of the report required under subsection (b).
“(d)

Imposition of Sanctions.—

“(1)

In general .—

If the President is unable to make an affirmative certification under subsection (b) for two consecutive reporting periods, the President may consider whether to impose targeted sanctions on individuals under existing authorities until the President makes an affirmative certification under subsection (b).
“(2)

Exception .—

The sanctions described in this subsection shall not include sanctions on the importation of goods.
“(3)

Defined term .—

In this subsection, the term ‘good’ means any article, natural or manmade substance, material, supply or manufactured product, including inspection and test equipment, and excluding technical data.”
–(d), , , provided that:

Caesar Syria Civilian Protection

Pub. L. 116–92, div. F, title LXXIV133 Stat. 2291 Pub. L. 118–159, div. E, title LI, § 5123138 Stat. 2431 Pub. L. 119–60, div. H, title LXXXIII, § 8369(a)139 Stat. 1905 , , , as amended by , , , which related to the imposition of sanctions and other methods to protect civilians in Syria and support the transition to a government in Syria that respects the rule of law, human rights, and peaceful co-existence with its neighbors, was repealed by , , .

Syrian War Crimes Accountability

Pub. L. 115–232, div. A, title XII, § 1232132 Stat. 2035

“(a)

Report on Accountability for War Crimes, Crimes Against Humanity, and Genocide in Syria.—

“(1)

In general .—

The Secretary of State shall submit a report on war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide in Syria to the appropriate congressional committees not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act [] and another such report not later than 180 days after the Secretary of State determines that the violence in Syria has ceased.
“(2)

Elements .—

The reports required under paragraph (1) shall include—
“(A)
a description of alleged war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide perpetrated during the civil war in Syria, including—
“(i)
incidents that may constitute war crimes, crimes against humanity, or genocide committed by the regime of President Bashar al-Assad and all forces fighting on its behalf;
“(ii)
incidents that may constitute war crimes, crimes against humanity, or genocide committed by violent extremist groups, anti-government forces, and any other combatants in the conflict;
“(iii)
any incidents that may violate the principle of medical neutrality and, if possible, the identification of the individual or individuals who engaged in or organized such incidents; and
“(iv)
if possible, a description of the conventional and unconventional weapons used for such crimes and the origins of such weapons; and
“(B)
a description and assessment by the Department of State Office of Global Criminal Justice, the United States Agency for International Development, the Department of Justice, and other appropriate agencies of programs that the United States Government has undertaken to ensure accountability for war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide perpetrated against the people of Syria by the regime of President Bashar al-Assad, violent extremist groups, and other combatants involved in the conflict, including programs—
“(i)
to train investigators within and outside of Syria on how to document, investigate, develop findings of, and identify and locate alleged perpetrators of war crimes, crimes against humanity, or genocide, including—
     “(I)
the number of United States Government or contract personnel currently designated to work full-time on these issues; and
     “(II)
the identification of the authorities and appropriations being used to support such training efforts;
“(ii)
to promote and prepare for a transitional justice process or processes for the perpetrators of war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide in Syria beginning in March 2011;
“(iii)
to document, collect, preserve, and protect evidence of war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide in Syria, including support for Syrian, foreign, and international nongovernmental organizations, and other entities, including the International, Impartial and Independent Mechanism to Assist in the Investigation and Prosecution of Persons Responsible for the Most Serious Crimes under International Law Committed in the Syrian Arab Republic since March 2011 and the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic; and
“(iv)
to assess the influence of accountability measures on efforts to reach a negotiated settlement to the Syrian conflict during the reporting period.
“(3)

Form .—

The reports required under paragraph (1) may be submitted in unclassified or classified form, but shall include a publicly available annex.
“(4)

Protection of witnesses and evidence .—

The Secretary shall take due care to ensure that the identification of witnesses and physical evidence are not publicly disclosed in a manner that might place such persons at risk of harm or encourage the destruction of evidence by the Government of Syria, violent extremist groups, anti-government forces, or any other combatants or participants in the conflict.
“(b)

Transitional Justice Study .—

Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act [], the Secretary of State (acting through appropriate officials and offices, which may include the Office of Global Criminal Justice), after consultation with the Department of Justice, the United States Agency for International Development, and other appropriate Federal agencies, shall—
“(1)
complete a study of the feasibility and desirability of potential transitional justice mechanisms for Syria, including a hybrid tribunal, to address war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide perpetrated in Syria beginning in March 2011; and
“(2)
submit a detailed report of the results of the study conducted under paragraph (1), including recommendations on which transitional justice mechanisms the United States Government should support, why such mechanisms should be supported, and what type of support should be offered, to—
“(A)
the Committee on Foreign Relations, the Committee on the Judiciary, and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate; and
“(B)
the Committee on Foreign Affairs, the Committee on the Judiciary, and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives.
“(c)

Technical Assistance Authorized.—

“(1)

In general .—

The Secretary of State (acting through appropriate officials and offices, which may include the Office of Global Criminal Justice), after consultation with the Department of Justice and other appropriate Federal agencies, is authorized to provide appropriate assistance to support entities that, with respect to war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide perpetrated by the regime of President Bashar al-Assad, all forces fighting on its behalf, and all non-state armed groups fighting in the country, including violent extremist groups in Syria beginning in March 2011—
“(A)
identify suspected perpetrators of war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide;
“(B)
collect, document, and protect evidence of crimes and preserve the chain of custody for such evidence;
“(C)
conduct criminal investigations;
“(D)
build Syria’s investigative and judicial capacities and support prosecutions in the domestic courts of Syria, provided that President Bashar al-Assad is no longer in power;
“(E)
support investigations by third-party states, as appropriate; or
“(F)
protect witnesses that may be helpful to prosecutions or other transitional justice mechanisms.
“(2)

Additional assistance .—

The Secretary of State, after consultation with appropriate Federal agencies and the appropriate congressional committees, and taking into account the findings of the transitional justice study required under subsection (b), is authorized to provide assistance to support the creation and operation of transitional justice mechanisms, including a potential hybrid tribunal, to prosecute individuals suspected of committing war crimes, crimes against humanity, or genocide in Syria beginning in March 2011.
“(3)

Briefing .—

The Secretary of State shall provide detailed, biannual briefings to the appropriate congressional committees describing the assistance provided to entities described in paragraph (1).
“(d)

State Department Rewards for Justice Program .—

section 2708(b)(10) of this title[Amended .]

“(e)

Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic .—

The Secretary of State, acting through the United States Permanent Representative to the United Nations, should use the voice, vote, and influence of the United States at the United Nations to advocate that the United Nations Human Rights Council, while the United States remains a member, annually extend the mandate of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic until the Commission has completed its investigation of all alleged violations of international human rights laws beginning in March 2011 in the Syrian Arab Republic.
“(f)

Effect of Section .—

22 U.S.C. 7421Nothing in this section shall be construed to violate the American Servicemembers’ Protection Act of 2002 ( et seq.).
“(g)

Definitions .—

In this section:
“(1)

Appropriate congressional committees .—

The term ‘appropriate congressional committees’ means—
“(A)
the Committee on Foreign Relations; the Committee on Armed Services, and the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate; and
“(B)
the Committee on Foreign Affairs, the Committee on Armed Services, and the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives.
“(2)

Genocide .—

section 1091(a) of title 18The term ‘genocide’ means any offense described in , United States Code.
“(3)

Hybrid tribunal .—

The term ‘hybrid tribunal’ means a temporary criminal tribunal that involves a combination of domestic and international lawyers, judges, and other professionals to prosecute individuals suspected of committing war crimes, crimes against humanity, or genocide.
“(4)

Transitional justice .—

The term ‘transitional justice’ means the range of judicial, nonjudicial, formal, informal, retributive, and restorative measures employed by countries transitioning out of armed conflict or repressive regimes—
“(A)
to redress legacies of atrocities; and
“(B)
to promote long-term, sustainable peace.
“(5)

War crime .—

section 2441(c) of title 18The term ‘war crime’ has the meaning given the term in , United States Code.”
, , , provided that:

Executive Documents

14312Ex. Ord. No. . Providing for the Revocation of Syria Sanctions

Ex. Ord. No. 14312, , 90 F.R. 29395, provided:

50 U.S.C. 170150 U.S.C. 1601Public Law 108–17522 U.S.C. 2151Public Law 102–182, title III22 U.S.C. 560122 U.S.C. 8791Public Law 118–50, div. P50 U.S.C. 1701section 301 of title 3By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including the International Emergency Economic Powers Act ( et seq.), the National Emergencies Act ( et seq.) (NEA), the Syria Accountability and Lebanese Sovereignty Restoration Act of 2003 () (Syria Accountability Act) [ note], the Chemical and Biological Weapons Control and Warfare Elimination Act of 1991 () (CBW Act) [ et seq.], the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act of 2019, as amended ( note) (Caesar Act) [set out above], the Illicit Captagon Trafficking Suppression Act of 2023 () [ note], and , United States Code, it is hereby ordered:

SectionBackground 1. . The United States is committed to supporting a Syria that is stable, unified, and at peace with itself and its neighbors. A united Syria that does not offer a safe haven for terrorist organizations and ensures the security of its religious and ethnic minorities will support regional security and prosperity. The Secretary of State and the Secretary of the Treasury have taken initial steps towards this goal through the issuance on , of General License 25 and a waiver of sanctions under the Caesar Act.

Sec.Policy 2. . It is the policy of the United States to recognize that circumstances that gave rise to the actions taken in the Executive Orders described in section 3(a) of this order, related to the policies and actions of the former regime of Bashar al-Assad, have been transformed by developments over the past 6 months, including the positive actions taken by the new Syrian government under President Ahmed al-Sharaa. This order supports United States national security and foreign policy goals by directing additional actions, including the removal of sanctions on Syria, the issuance of waivers that permit the relaxation of export controls and other restrictions on Syria, and other actions to be taken by the Secretary of State, the Secretary of the Treasury, and the Secretary of Commerce, as well as by other executive departments and agencies (agencies) of the United States, without providing relief to ISIS or other terrorist organizations, human rights abusers, those linked to chemical weapons or proliferation-related activities, or other persons that threaten the peace, security, or stability of the United States, Syria, and its neighbors.

Sec.Revocation of Syria Sanctions50 U.S.C. 170150 U.S.C. 170150 U.S.C. 170150 U.S.C. 170150 U.S.C. 170150 U.S.C. 1701 3. . (a) Effective , I hereby terminate the national emergency declared in Executive Order 13338 of (Blocking Property of Certain Persons and Prohibiting the Export of Certain Goods to Syria) [ note], and revoke that order, as well as Executive Order 13399 of (Blocking Property of Additional Persons in Connection With the National Emergency With Respect to Syria) [ note], Executive Order 13460 of (Blocking Property of Additional Persons in Connection With the National Emergency With Respect to Syria) [ note], Executive Order 13572 of (Blocking Property of Certain Persons with Respect to Human Rights Abuses in Syria) [ note], Executive Order 13573 of (Blocking Property of Senior Officials of the Government of Syria) [ note], and Executive Order 13582 of (Blocking Property of the Government of Syria and Prohibiting Certain Transactions with Respect to Syria) [ note].

50 U.S.C. 1622(a)(b) Pursuant to section 202(a) of the NEA (), termination of the national emergency declared in Executive Order 13338, as modified in scope and relied upon for additional steps taken in Executive Order 13399, Executive Order 13460, Executive Order 13572, Executive Order 13573, and Executive Order 13582 shall not affect any action taken or pending proceeding not finally concluded or determined as of , any action or proceeding based on any act committed prior to , or any rights or duties that matured or penalties that were incurred prior to .

Sec.Accountability for the Former Regime of Bashar al-Assad 4. . I find that additional steps must be taken to ensure meaningful accountability for perpetrators of war crimes, human rights violations and abuses, and the proliferation of narcotics trafficking networks in and in relation to Syria during the former regime of Bashar al-Assad and by those associated with it. Perpetrators of such actions threaten to undermine peace, security, and stability in the region, and thereby constitute an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States.

section 1701 of Title 50(a) [Amended Ex. Ord. No. 13894, set out as a note under , War and National Defense.]

section 1701 of Title 50(b) [Amended Ex. Ord. No. 13606, set out as a note under .]

Sec.Caesar Act21 U.S.C. 2311 5. . The Secretary of State, in consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury, shall examine whether the criteria set forth in section 7431(a) of the Caesar Act have been met, and on the basis of that examination may, pursuant to the Presidential Memorandum of (Delegation of Certain Functions and Authorities Under the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020) [ note], suspend in whole or in part the imposition of sanctions otherwise required under the Caesar Act. If the Secretary of State determines to suspend in whole or in part the imposition of such sanctions, the Secretary of State, in consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury, shall provide the briefing to the appropriate congressional committees required by section 7431(b) of the Caesar Act within 30 days of such determination. Further, the Secretary of State, in consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury, shall continue to review the situation in Syria, and if the Secretary of State, in consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury, determines that the criteria set forth in section 7431(a) are no longer met, the Secretary of State shall reimpose sanctions.

Sec.Syria Accountability Act 6. . I hereby determine pursuant to section 5(b) of the Syria Accountability Act that it is in the national security interest of the United States to waive the application of subsection (a)(1), with respect to items on the Commerce Control List (supp. No. 1 to 15 C.F.R. part 774) only, and subsection (a)(2)(A) [of section 5] of the Syria Accountability Act only. The Secretary of State shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees the report required under section 5(b) of that Act.

Sec.CBW Act22 U.S.C. 5605(d)(1)(B) 7. . (a) Pursuant to section 307(d)(1)(B) of the CBW Act [], I hereby determine and certify that there has been a fundamental change in the leadership and policies of the Government of the Syrian Arab Republic. Accordingly, I hereby waive the following sanctions imposed on Syria for the prior use of chemical weapons under the former regime of Bashar al-Assad:

(i) the restriction on foreign assistance under section 307(a)(1) of the CBW Act;

(ii) the restriction on United States Government credit, credit guarantees, or other financial assistance under section 307(a)(4) of the CBW Act;

(iii) the restrictions on the export of national security-sensitive goods and technology under section 307(a)(5) of the CBW Act and on all other goods and technology under section 307(b)(2)(C) of the CBW Act; and

(iv) the restriction on United States banks from making any loan or providing any credit to the Government of Syria under section 307(b)(2)(B) of the CBW Act.

(b) The Secretary of State shall transmit this waiver determination and report as required by sections 307(d)(1)(B) and (d)(2) of the CBW Act to the appropriate congressional committees. This waiver shall be effective 20 days after it has been so transmitted.

Sec.Counterterrorism Designations8 U.S.C. 1189act June 27, 1952, ch. 477 50 U.S.C. 1702section 203 of Pub. L. 95–22350 U.S.C. 1701 8. . (a) The Secretary of State, in consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury and the Attorney General, shall take all appropriate action with respect to the designation of al-Nusrah Front, also known as Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham and other aliases, as a Foreign Terrorist Organization under [section 219 of ] and as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist under [] and Executive Order 13224 [ note], as well as the designation of Abu Muhammad al-Jawlani, commonly known as Ahmed al-Sharaa, as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist.

Public Law 115–23250 U.S.C. 4813(c)Public Law 90–62922 U.S.C. 2780Public Law 87–19522 U.S.C. 2371(b) The Secretary of State shall take all appropriate action to review the designation of Syria as a State Sponsor of Terrorism consistent with section 1754(c) of the [John S. McCain] National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 (; ), section 40 of the Arms Export Control Act (, as amended; ), and section 620A of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (, as amended; ).

Sec.United Nations 9. . The Secretary of State shall take appropriate steps to advance United States policy objectives at the United Nations to support a Syria that is stable and at peace and to support Syrian efforts to counter terrorism and comply with its responsibilities and obligations concerning weapons of mass destruction, including chemical and biological weapons. The Secretary of State is further directed to explore avenues at the United Nations to provide sanctions relief in support of these objectives.

Sec.Implementation 10. . The Secretary of State, the Secretary of the Treasury, and the Secretary of Commerce, as appropriate, are hereby authorized to take such actions, including adopting rules and regulations, as may be necessary to implement this order. The Secretary of State, the Secretary of the Treasury, and the Secretary of Commerce may, consistent with applicable law, redelegate any of these functions within their respective agencies. The Secretary of State, in consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury, the Secretary of Commerce, and the Secretary of Transportation, as appropriate, is authorized to exercise the functions and authorities conferred upon the President in section 5 of the Syria Accountability Act and to redelegate these functions and authorities consistent with applicable law. All agencies of the United States shall take all appropriate measures within their authority to implement this order, consistent with applicable law.

Sec.General Provisions 11. . (a) Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:

(i) the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or

(ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.

(b) This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.

(c) This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.

(d) The costs for publication of this order shall be borne by the Department of State.

Donald J. Trump.
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