Trump removes sanctions on Syria

Israel says Golan Heights 'nonnegotiable' as it eyes peace accords with neighbors

United States President Donald Trump has lifted long-standing sanctions on Syria, while Israel expressed "interest" in peace deals with neighboring Syria and Lebanon — though it insisted the status of the Golan Heights remains "nonnegotiable".

In an executive order on Monday, Trump terminated the "national emergency" in place since 2004, which had imposed sanctions on Syria and affected most state-run institutions, including the central bank.

The sanctions had been imposed on the government of former Syrian president Bashar al-Assad, who was overthrown in December. The White House said it would monitor the Syrian interim government's actions, including "taking concrete steps toward normalizing ties with Israel".