The United States has quietly approved a Qatari initiative to finance salaries for Syrian public-sector workers, marking a significant shift in Western engagement with post-Assad Syria, according to three sources familiar with the matter.
The funding plan—cleared by the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC)—is expected to enable a gradual salary increase of up to 400% for over a million Syrian civil servants, offering critical relief to a country crippled by 14 years of war, sanctions, and decades of economic mismanagement.
A Syrian financial source confirmed that the Qatari funds would start flowing next month, under strict conditions that exclude the interior and defense ministries, in line with Western concerns over the fundamentalist background of the new Syrian leadership.
The move reflects a notable, if cautious, softening of U.S. policy, which had remained largely frozen under sanctions dating back to former President Bashar al-Assad’s rule. The current government, led by President Ahmed al-Sharaa, has sought to distance itself from its Islamist origins under Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which deposed Assad last year.
While Sharaa has not fully convinced Western capitals of his political transformation, the Biden administration's January sanctions exemption—and now Trump’s continuity of that policy—has opened space for Gulf Arab states to provide economic lifelines. In April, Saudi Arabia and Qatar jointly repaid Syria’s debts to the World Bank, enabling renewed access to international financial assistance.
Qatar, which had been reluctant to act without a U.S. greenlight, is now expected to finalize the payment plan once it receives written confirmation from OFAC. Diplomats familiar with the discussions said this could come within days.
The Qatari initiative aligns with Syria’s newly launched free market reforms, a break from decades of protectionism under Assad. The Syrian government plans to complement the Qatari-backed salary increase with domestic funding for other employees not covered by the deal.
Despite progress, ambiguity over the broader U.S. sanctions regime continues to challenge efforts by international stakeholders to engage with Damascus. Humanitarian and financial institutions have requested clearer exemptions to avoid violating U.S. law.
Western officials remain wary of Syria’s security apparatus, even after the official dissolution of HTS in January. The group emerged from Jabhat al-Nusra, formerly al-Qaeda’s affiliate in Syria, and remains a sticking point in policy deliberations.
Economic revitalization remains at the core of Sharaa’s administration. With 90% of Syrians living in poverty, according to UN data, rebuilding state institutions and restoring public confidence are viewed as essential for national recovery.
The Qatari initiative may serve as a test case for future international engagement with Syria—one that balances economic stabilization with enduring security and human rights concerns.
The U.S. State Department stated that it aims to prevent the misuse of American universities and protect U.S. research from exploitation by the Chinese government.
Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov held a meeting on Thursday with U.S. Senator Steve Daines, a member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, to discuss the evolving dynamics of Azerbaijan–U.S. relations and regional developments in the South Caucasus.
For the first time since 2012, the U.S. flag was raised in Damascus, marking a major step in restoring ties between the U.S. and Syria.
The International Labour Organization (ILO), headquartered in Geneva, has announced the loss of around 225 jobs due to significant funding cuts, mainly caused by the reduction of voluntary contributions from the United States under President Donald Trump.
The war in Ukraine is heating up again, and tensions between the U.S. and Russia are rising. President Donald Trump warned that Russian President Vladimir Putin is “playing with fire” as Russia massed 50,000 troops near Ukraine’s Sumy region.
Landslides and flash floods caused by days of heavy monsoon rain have killed at least 22 people in India’s northeast, officials said.
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet said Saturday that the border conflict with Thailand “must be resolved with patience and through legal and diplomatic channels.”
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi spoke by phone with IAEA Director Rafael Mariano Grossi, warning that any political actions against Iran at next week’s Board of Governors meeting would have consequences.
Türkiye expressed deep sorrow Saturday over the devastating floods in Nigeria’s Niger State, which have claimed over 150 lives.
A bridge collapse in the Vygonichsky district of Russia’s Bryansk region, near the Ukrainian border, caused a train derailment and a traffic accident early Sunday, killing at least seven people and leaving 30 injured, according to emergency services.
On May 28, the inauguration ceremony of Lachin International Airport was held.
A car drove into crowds of Liverpool fans celebrating the club’s Premier League title in the city centre on Monday evening, injuring dozens including 4 children. A 53-year-old man believed to be the driver was arrested at the scene.
EU ministers have greenlit a massive €150 billion defense investment fund—dubbed the Security Action for Europe (SAFE)—as the bloc ramps up its military readiness in response to Russia’s aggression and growing uncertainty over U.S. security guarantees.
Brazil’s economy is expected to have regained momentum in the first quarter of 2025, driven by a surge in household spending and private investment, according to a Reuters poll of economists conducted from May 21–26.
An international academic conference titled "Islamophobia: Exposing Prejudice and Destroying Stigma" has officially opened in the capital of Azerbaijan, bringing together global scholars, experts, and policymakers to address the rise and consequences of anti-Muslim discrimination.
Türkiye’s first floating natural gas production platform, Osman Gazi, reached Filyos Port in Zonguldak on May 31.
Authorities in Whatcom County, Washington, issued a warning Friday after a truck carrying honey bee hives overturned near the Canadian border, initially prompting fears that millions of bees had been released.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz will travel to Washington next week to meet U.S. President Donald Trump.
Landslides and flash floods caused by days of heavy monsoon rain have killed at least 22 people in India’s northeast, officials said.
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet said Saturday that the border conflict with Thailand “must be resolved with patience and through legal and diplomatic channels.”
Landslides and flash floods caused by days of heavy monsoon rain have killed at least 22 people in India’s northeast, officials said.
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet said Saturday that the border conflict with Thailand “must be resolved with patience and through legal and diplomatic channels.”
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi spoke by phone with IAEA Director Rafael Mariano Grossi, warning that any political actions against Iran at next week’s Board of Governors meeting would have consequences.
Türkiye expressed deep sorrow Saturday over the devastating floods in Nigeria’s Niger State, which have claimed over 150 lives.
A bridge collapse in the Vygonichsky district of Russia’s Bryansk region, near the Ukrainian border, caused a train derailment and a traffic accident early Sunday, killing at least seven people and leaving 30 injured, according to emergency services.
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