Very pleased to see this report out. Core lesson from this short-lived experience is that Washington was right to impose consequences on settler violence, but sanctions alone are a limited tool absent a broader policy on settlements. Great to work with my old friends @centuryintl.bsky.social on this

Delaney Simon@delaneysimon.bsky.social · last yr.

I wrote about the Biden administration's efforts to sanction Israeli settlers for @centuryintl.bsky.social. The program had some real successes, but in other ways, it backfired. tcf.org/content/comm... 🧵 1/5

I wrote about the Biden administration's efforts to sanction Israeli settlers for @centuryintl.bsky.social. The program had some real successes, but in other ways, it backfired. tcf.org/content/comm... 🧵 1/5

The Lessons of the Biden Administration’s Efforts to Sanction Israeli Settlers

Among the possible U.S. policies to reign in Israeli excesses, measures targeting illegal settlements in the West Bank might seem to be relatively

tcf.org

Tune in to my interview on the CBC with Canadian journalism legend Susan Ormiston. I discuss with the great @edwardfishman.bsky.social and Andrea Charron whether economic punishment actually shapes behavior — or just creates diplomatic noise.🎙️ Listen here: www.cbc.ca/listen/live-...

© CBC/Radio-Canada 2025. All rights reserved.

cbc.ca

My latest in @foreignpolicy.com. Trump has promised to lift sanctions on Syria. I explain why it's not that easy to fully end the sanctions—and their effects. foreignpolicy.com/2025/06/02/t...

It’s Not That Easy to Lift Sanctions on Syria

Other presidents have struggled with political and logistical obstacles when trying to effect a rollback.

foreignpolicy.com

🚨NEW @crisisgroup.org REPORT Libya's $70 billion sovereign wealth fund has been under UN #sanctions since the revolt against Muammar al-Qadhafi in 2011. The sanctions remain in place more a decade after his death.🧵 www.crisisgroup.org/middle-east-...

Frozen Billions: Reforming Sanctions on the Libyan Investment Authority | Crisis Group

Libya’s sovereign wealth fund has been under UN sanctions since the revolt against Muammar al-Qadhafi in 2011. These measures restrict investment that would enlarge the fund. The UN has eased them, bu...

crisisgroup.org

Important article on how the West, and especially the U.S., cannot figure out how to lift sanctions. But they are very good at imposing them. www.justsecurity.org/108458/sanct...

To Support Peace Efforts, the West Needs a Coordinated Way to Effectively Reduce Sanctions

Western leaders don't know how to lift economic and financial sanctions once a war ends and elongated sanctions regimes need to be changed.

justsecurity.org

Key members of Syria’s interim government are under UN sanctions, prolonging the country’s humanitarian crisis. For @crisisgroup.org, @jeromed.bsky.social @mayaungar.bsky.social & I explain why the UN Security Council should consider starting the delisting process www.crisisgroup.org/middle-east-...

Rethinking UN Sanctions on Syria’s Interim Leaders | Crisis Group

Key members of Syria’s interim government remain under UN sanctions, prolonging the country’s humanitarian crisis and hampering reconstruction. In this Q&A, Crisis Group experts explain why the UN Sec...

crisisgroup.org

Chris Newton and I explain in our @crisisgroup.org commentary how U.S. aid cuts will make famine more likely and easier to hide. www.crisisgroup.org/united-state... 1/

U.S. Aid Cuts Make Famine More Likely and Easier to Hide | Crisis Group

The Trump administration has put a 90-day hold on most U.S. foreign aid, with devastating effects on the system built over decades for preventing famine. The result may be more and deadlier famines, w...

crisisgroup.org

International Crisis Group’s Delaney Simon on U.S. sanctions relief for Syria, arguing that more is needed, faster. @delaneysimon.bsky.social @lawfare.bsky.social @crisisgroup.org www.lawfaremedia.org/article/u.s....

U.S. Sanctions Relief for Syria Is an Important Start, but Not Enough

The Trump administration must offer bolder reforms if it wants to prevent the new Syria from descending into chaos.

lawfaremedia.org

@delaneysimon.bsky.social for @lawfare.bsky.social on the limitations of U.S. sanctions relief so far for post-Assad Syria, and what more the Trump administration should now do to help stabilize the country's economy: www.lawfaremedia.org/article/u.s....

U.S. Sanctions Relief for Syria Is an Important Start, but Not Enough

The Trump administration must offer bolder reforms if it wants to prevent the new Syria from descending into chaos.

lawfaremedia.org

"Washington should take advantage of the opportunity to shape Syria’s future for the better and remove the obstacles it has placed in its path. Inaction could place a millstone around Syria’s neck." Smart view on Syria sanctions from @delaneysimon.bsky.social. www.lawfaremedia.org/article/u.s....

U.S. Sanctions Relief for Syria Is an Important Start, but Not Enough

The Trump administration must offer bolder reforms if it wants to prevent the new Syria from descending into chaos.

lawfaremedia.org

Following the fall of President Bashar al-Assad, the Syrian people have serious challenges as they rebuild their society—including U.S. sanctions. @delaneysimon.bsky.social explains the reforms the Trump administration could implement to prevent Syria from descending into chaos.

U.S. Sanctions Relief for Syria Is an Important Start, but Not Enough

The Trump administration must offer bolder reforms if it wants to prevent the new Syria from descending into chaos.

lawfaremedia.org

As I wrote in @lawfare.bsky.social, President Trump should offer bolder sanctions reforms than Biden did if he wants to prevent Syria from descending into chaos. 1/3 🧵 www.lawfaremedia.org/article/u.s....

U.S. Sanctions Relief for Syria Is an Important Start, but Not Enough

The Trump administration must offer bolder reforms if it wants to prevent the new Syria from descending into chaos.

lawfaremedia.org

Syria’s new leaders seem eager to curry favor with the West, and international leaders should engage with them to set Syria up for success, argue @delaneysimon.bsky.social, Graeme Smith, and Jerome Drevon.

Don’t Repeat in Syria the Mistakes of Afghanistan

Isolating Damascus's new rulers won't moderate them.

foreignaffairs.com

When trying to gauge the possible impact of the lifting of sanctions on Syria, many analysts look back at when the EU lifted sanctions on Iran in 2016. At the time, EU companies struggled. www.thenationalnews.com/news/europe/...

European talks on Syria sanctions relief overshadowed by doubts on Trump’s moves | The National

EU efforts widely hailed as important but full co-ordination must wait for Washington’s new rulers

thenationalnews.com

European foreign ministers are coordinating on how to (partially) lift sanctions on Syria at their next meeting in Brussels on the 27th. While it's a move that is likely to be widely welcomed, there's a big question mark around what the US will do, @delaneysimon.bsky.social tells me

Good work on web of syria sanctions in work by @delaneysimon.bsky.social and @crisisgroup.org colleagues foreignaffairs.com/afghanistan/do… And @alexzerden.bsky.social Scott anderson @lawfare.bsky.social lawfaremedia.org/article/our-ma���

@delaneysimon.bsky.social, @graemesmith.bsky.social & @jeromed.bsky.social on learning from #Afghanistan in #Syria is great. The need to give HTS "adequate clarity about how to gain diplomatic recognition and shake off sanctions" is universal for transitions. www.foreignaffairs.com/afghanistan/...

Don’t Repeat in Syria the Mistakes of Afghanistan

Isolating Damascus's new rulers won't moderate them.

foreignaffairs.com

Importat timely piece on syria sanctions policy from @delaneysimon.bsky.social and @crisisgroup.org colleagues @foreignaffairs.com They highlight importance of both quick humanitarian relief channels AND need for clear signals on what would be needed for broad sanctions relief. t.co/D9z5KOSsd7

Good free-to-read @foreignaffairs.com piece piece on how the USA and Europe appear set to wreck Syria’s transition by simply defaulting to economic warfare for lack of clear ideas. @delaneysimon.bsky.social @jeromed.bsky.social @graemesmithauthor.bsky.social www.foreignaffairs.com/afghanistan/...

Don’t Repeat in Syria the Mistakes of Afghanistan

Isolating Damascus's new rulers won't moderate them.

foreignaffairs.com

In @foreignaffairs.com, @graemesmithauthor.bsky.social, @jeromed.bsky.social and I urge Western policymakers to make better choices in #Syria than they did in #Afghanistan, or risk sabotaging Syria's transition 🧵1/ www.foreignaffairs.com/afghanistan/...

Don’t Repeat in Syria the Mistakes of Afghanistan

Isolating Damascus's new rulers won't moderate them.

foreignaffairs.com

Illuminating essay by @abujamajem.com in @foreignaffairs.com. “It is in everyone’s interest that Syria succeed... Interested countries now need to do everything they can to ensure that the worst fears about a post-Assad Syria do not come to pass.” www.foreignaffairs.com/syria/how-ho...

How to Hold Syria Together

In the wake of Assad’s fall, the biggest threat is chaos.

foreignaffairs.com

"When Syria rebuilds, it's going to have to move beyond the illicit economy. It will have to reinvigorate industry and the banking sector. This will be really difficult with sanctions in place." My interview with @mattgalloway.bsky.social on @cbcradiocanada.bsky.social cbc.ca/listen/live-...

“Moscow became a “hub” for evading western sanctions imposed after Assad brutally put down an uprising in 2011.” Interesting how Assad sent plane loads of cash to Russia as both were reeling from western sanctions.

Iikka Korhonen@iikkakorhonen.bsky.social · 2y ago

Syrian central bank data said foreign reserves were “almost nothing” by 2018. But due to sanctions, the bank did have to make payments in cash. It bought wheat from Russia and paid for money printing services and “defence” expenses Assad dispatched $250mn of cash to Moscow on.ft.com/3ZBmpYs

I talked to @AsharqBusiness about the path to economic recovery in Syria and why it will be seriously obstructed without sanctions relief. now.asharq.com/clip/%D9%83%...

I told @theintercept.com, “Not considering sanctions relief right now is like pulling the rug out from under Syria just when it’s trying to stand...I can’t overemphasize the intensity of the effect of the sanctions on the Syrian economy.” theintercept.com/2024/12/13/a...

Keeping Sanctions in Force Would “Pull the Rug Out From Under Syria”

Calls are growing to lift sanctions on Syria so it can get aid to those in desperate need and then rebuild the country.

theintercept.com

I highly recommend @alexzerden.bsky.social and @sranderson.bsky.social's excellent @lawfare.bsky.social article. It goes into detail about the legal implications of the overlapping sanctions regimes that, if left unreformed, will stunt Syria's transition. www.lawfaremedia.org/article/our-... 1/2

Absolutely

Rachel Ziemba@reziemba.bsky.social · 2y ago

Good comprehensive piece from @alexzerden.bsky.social @sranderson.bsky.social on the myriad of overlapping financial sanctions targeting Syrian actors for a variety of reasons. Some good recommendations including humanitarian exemptions to make sure sanctions don’t undermine broader goals

Good comprehensive piece from @alexzerden.bsky.social @sranderson.bsky.social on the myriad of overlapping financial sanctions targeting Syrian actors for a variety of reasons. Some good recommendations including humanitarian exemptions to make sure sanctions don’t undermine broader goals

Lawfare@lawfaremedia.org · 2y ago

@sranderson.bsky.social and @alexzerden.bsky.social provide an in-depth explanation of the sanctions, export controls, and economic restrictions that target HTS, as a terrorist organization, and Syria and provide recommendations on how policymakers should approach these issues.