WASHINGTON — Today, the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) issued Syria General License (GL) 24 to expand authorizations for activities and transactions in Syria following December 8, 2024. This action underscores the United States’ commitment to ensuring that U.S. sanctions do not impede activities to meet basic human needs, including the provision of public services or humanitarian assistance. This authorization is for six months, as the U.S. government continues to monitor the evolving situation on the ground.
“The end of Bashar al-Assad’s brutal and repressive rule, backed by Russia and Iran, provides a unique opportunity for Syria and its people to rebuild,” said Deputy Secretary of the Treasury Wally Adeyemo. “During this period of transition, Treasury will continue to support humanitarian assistance and responsible governance in Syria.”
A NEW PATH FORWARD
As a result of the Assad regime’s brutality against the Syrian people, support for terrorism, and destabilizing actions across the region, Syria is one of OFAC’s most comprehensively sanctioned jurisdictions. Given the extraordinary circumstances, and to support the Syrian people as they build a more hopeful, secure, and peaceful future, the U.S. Department of the Treasury, through OFAC, is issuing GL 24 to help ensure that sanctions do not impede essential services and continuity of governance functions across Syria, including the provision of electricity, energy, water, and sanitation. GL 24 builds on existing authorizations in the Syrian Sanctions Regulations, Global Terrorist Sanctions Regulations, and Foreign Terrorist Organization Sanctions Regulations, including those that support international organization activities, nongovernmental organization (NGO) activities, humanitarian, and stabilization efforts in the region.
This authorization does not unblock the property or interest in property of any blocked person under any of our sanctions programs, including Assad and his associates, the Government of Syria, Central Bank of Syria, or Hay’at Tahrir al Sham (HTS); nor does it authorize any financial transfers to any blocked person other than for the purpose of effecting certain authorized payments to governing institutions or associated service providers in Syria.
ADDITIONAL GUIDANCE
U.S. implementing partners and humanitarian organizations can continue to refer to the Syria Compliance Communique, which outlines OFAC’s guidance for the provision of humanitarian assistance to Syria, and general license 31 CFR § 542.533, which authorizes certain commercial activities in certain areas of Northeast and Northwest Syria.U.S. persons may continue to send non-commercial, personal remittances to friends or family in Syria. Additional guidance is provided in OFAC’s Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs). All questions regarding exporting goods from the United States to Syria should be directed to U.S. Department of Commerce Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) by email at foreign.policy@bis.doc.gov or by phone at 202-482-4252.
Any person or organization who seeks to engage in activities in Syria that are not covered by existing authorizations or exemptions are encouraged to contact OFAC directly to seek specific licenses at https://ofac.treasury.gov/ofac-license-application-page or guidance at https://ofac.treasury.gov/ofac-compliance-hotline.
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