The Syrian Foreign Ministry has criticized the US decision to allow some foreign nationals to invest in areas of northern Syria that are beyond government control, and has threatened to thwart the move, Reuters reported.
Yesterday, the US Treasury Department approved activities in 12 sectors, including agriculture, construction, and finance, as part of a strategy aimed at defeating the Islamic State through economic stabilization in northern Syria. The ruling does not allow any deals with the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad or other individuals on the US blacklist during the 11-year Syrian war.
In a statement today, the Damascus Foreign Ministry said Syria was “determined to thwart this new conspiracy” and encouraged people in the north to stop it. The foreign ministry described the decision as part of Washington’s “destructive approach” to Syria. Damascus says Western sanctions are causing widespread hardship for civilians in a country where the collapse of the currency has led to a sharp rise in prices and people are struggling to secure food and basic goods.
Government troops and their allied forces have regained most of the territories they lost after demonstrations against Assad in 2011 escalated into violent conflict.
Extensive territories in the northwestern part of the country are held by Turkish-backed rebel forces, while the northeast is controlled mainly by US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces.
The northeastern part of the country is home to much of Syria’s oil reserves and wheat production, while the northwest was once an agricultural and industrial zone.
The US decision to allow some foreigners to invest in areas of northern Syria allows the purchase of petroleum products such as gasoline but does not allow transactions with the government or sanctioned persons or the import of Syrian petroleum products into the United States.
Speaking to reporters, US officials dismissed claims that the move could be seen as aiding some Arab allies’ efforts to restore Assad’s rule and reiterated that Washington has no plans to lift sanctions against him.
Instead, officials say the economic recovery will hamper what is left of Islamic State to recruit.
