Saudi Arabia Hosts Discussions on Syria: Calls to Lift Sanctions Following Assad's Fall

Saudi Arabia is set to host foreign ministers from Europe and the Middle East on Sunday to discuss the transition in Syria following the ousting of Bashar al-Assad in December. A Saudi official informed AFP that there will be two meetings: one among Arab states and another involving Arab states and other countries, including France, the UK, Germany, Italy, Turkey, and Spain.

The discussions will focus on "Syria in general," particularly on supporting the new administration and the potential lifting of sanctions. U.S. Under Secretary of State John Bass will participate in what the State Department described as a "multilateral meeting organized by Saudi Arabia bringing together senior government officials from the region and international partners to coordinate support for the Syrian people."

Bass is arriving from Turkey, where he has been discussing Syria with high-ranking officials. German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock and Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan have confirmed their participation.

This meeting follows previous discussions on post-Assad Syria held in December in Aqaba, Jordan. Western powers, including the United States and the European Union, imposed sanctions on al-Assad's government due to its brutal crackdown on anti-government protests in 2011, which triggered a civil war that has claimed over half a million lives and displaced millions.

After 13 years of conflict, rebels led by the radical Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) ousted Bashar al-Assad on December 8. The transitional government is now pushing for the lifting of international sanctions, but many capitals, including Washington, have stated they want to see how the new authorities will govern before lifting restrictions.