US House Approves Bill to Lift Caesar Act Sanctions on Syria
According to the International Desk of Webangah News Agency, the U.S. House of Representatives has approved a major defense budget bill for the fiscal year 2026, totaling nearly $900 billion. The bill encompasses a range of provisions related to Syria, Ukraine, the Asia-Pacific region, Europe, Iraq, and counter-narcotics efforts.
Specifically, the legislation includes the removal of sanctions previously imposed on the Bashar al-Assad government under the Caesar Act. Regarding Ukraine, the bill allocates $400 million in security assistance for both 2026 and 2027.
For the Asia-Pacific region, the bill fully funds security cooperation with Taiwan to the amount of $1 billion. It also establishes a joint drone program between the Pentagon and Taipei and maintains 28,500 American troops in South Korea.
The legislation further prohibits reducing the number of U.S. forces in Europe to below 76,000 for a period exceeding 45 days. Additionally, it revokes the authorizations for the use of military force related to the 1991 and 2002 Iraq wars.
The bill also allocates $1 billion for alleged counter-drug trafficking operations, including maritime activities. Following its approval in the House, the bill will proceed to the Senate for consideration and a vote. If passed by the Senate, it will then be sent to the President for final approval.
