ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq – Syria’s President Ahmed al-Sharaa on Friday congratulated the Syrian people on the complete lifting of the Caesar Act sanctions, expressing gratitude to US President Donald Trump, as well as regional allies, for supporting Syria’s transition.

The US Senate on Wednesday passed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2026, which includes the complete repeal of the Caesar Act. Trump signed the bill on Thursday, commencing its implementation.

“Today marks the first day of a Syria free of sanctions,” said Sharaa in a video message recorded from Damascus’ Mount Qaisoun. “Today is your day, great Syrian people. The time of suffering has passed, and the era of rebuilding has begun, God willing.”

“Special thanks to US President Donald Trump for responding to the call of the Syrian people, and to the members of Congress for recognizing the sacrifices of the Syrian people and answering their call to lift sanctions on Syria,” said the Syrian leader.

Sharaa also thanked Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and Qatar’s Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani for standing by the Syrian people throughout the years of the civil war, and for supporting the country’s post-war reconstruction over the past year.

In a statement earlier on Friday, the Syrian foreign ministry welcomed the removal of the Caesar sanctions, dubbing it an important step that “contributes to alleviating the burdens on the Syrian people and opens the way for a new phase of recovery.”

The Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act of 2019 was a sanctions system that targeted the Syrian government and those involved in business with Damascus, cutting the country off from the global economy. The law was enacted during the rule of the deposed Baathist regime under Bashar al-Assad.