Trump says US to lift Syria sanctions, ending years of Washington’s policy

US president declares sanctions have ‘served their purpose’ and this gives Syria ‘a chance at greatness’. “I will be ordering the cessation of sanctions against Syria in order to give them a chance at greatness,” he said. Al Jazeera’s Senior Political Analyst Marwan Bishara questioned the motives behind Trump’s decision to lift sanctions and what Damascus is prepared to give in return. “The one that occupies Syrian territory … is Israel, which is intervening in Syria, trying to divide and weaken it,” he said. He urged US officials to pressure Israel to halt its interference as sanctions are lifted and Syria attempts to rebuild.