The US President extends the national emergency regarding Syria
The White House announced the extension of the national emergency imposed on Syria for another year, in light of the continued extraordinary and extraordinary threats posed by the Syrian government’s policies to US national security, the US economy, and foreign relations.
In an official notice published in the Federal Register, US President Donald Trump notified Congress of the extension of the national emergency imposed on Syria, pursuant to Executive Order No. 13338 issued on May 11, 2004.
According to this notice, the emergency will remain in effect until May 11, 2025, based on the US National Emergencies Act.
The previous US administration, under President George W. Bush, imposed this state of emergency on Syria under the 2003 Syria Accountability and Lebanese Sovereignty Restoration Act, in addition to the International Emergency Economic Powers Act.
These measures were imposed as a result of accusations that the Syrian government supported terrorism, occupied Lebanon at the time, sought to possess weapons of mass destruction, and obstructed US and international efforts in Iraq.
In his notification to Congress, President Trump stated that the structural weaknesses in governance within Syria and the government’s failure to control the use of chemical weapons or confront terrorist organizations continue to pose a direct threat to US interests.
Trump added that extraordinary circumstances require an extension of the state of emergency.
The White House confirmed that the extension of the state of emergency will remain subject to review, noting that the US administration will monitor the Syrian government’s future policies and actions to determine whether to end or extend the state of emergency in the future.
In October 2024, former US President Joe Biden declared a national emergency regarding Syria for another year, stating that the situation in Syria continued to pose an exceptional threat to US national security and endangered civilians.
In May 2024, the Biden administration reaffirmed that the emergency situation related to human rights violations by the Assad regime and the continued threats to the stability of the Arab region required the continuation of these measures.
The White House stated in a statement at the time that the extension was a result of several threats, most notably the Syrian regime’s support for terrorist organizations and its use of chemical weapons, along with its continued repression of the Syrian people, which not only threatens the security of the Syrian people but also contributes to increased instability in the region.
