Japan signals support to Syria under al-Sharaa, lifts sanctions

Japan on Tuesday said it was lifting partial sanctions on Syria, signaling support to the government of President Ahmad al-Sharaa, Anadolu reports. Japan’s top government spokesman Minoru Kihara told reporters that many of the entities being removed from the sanctions list “are expected to play a role in Syria’s reconstruction,” state-run NHK news reported. Syria and Japan restored diplomatic ties last December, following a 15-year breakdown, a year after al-Sharaa formed the government following the ousting of Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad in December 2024. Stability and development in Syria “are directly linked to stability across the entire Middle East,” he said, adding that Tokyo “intends to support the country.” READ: Syria calls on EU to pressure Israel ‘effectively’ to halt attacks […]