The United States refused a request from Israeli officials to maintain certain sanctions on Syria, KAN News reported Saturday. Israeli sources told KAN that the Trump administration pledged to “compensate” Israel for the refusal, after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office sought to retain leverage over Syrian President Ahmed al-Shaara.

Why It Matters:
The move could reshape U.S.-Israeli coordination in the Middle East, particularly regarding negotiations with Damascus. Retaining sanctions has historically been a key tool for influencing Syrian policy under the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act. The decision also follows the U.S. House of Representatives’ recent vote to repeal certain sanctions, raising questions about future leverage in regional diplomacy.

What To Know:

• Israeli officials reportedly requested that some sanctions remain in place as leverage for upcoming talks with Syrian President Ahmed al-Shaara, according to KAN News. Trump administration officials rejected the request and promised compensation.
• Earlier this month, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a $900 billion defense policy bill including a repeal of a set of sanctions imposed under former Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad.
• The Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act broadly targeted individuals, companies, and institutions linked to Assad.
• In May, President Trump announced plans to remove sanctions after meeting with al-Shara’a.

Caveat:
Documents and reports do not confirm the specific compensation promised to Israel, the exact sanctions that would have remained, or the precise impact on U.S.-Syria negotiations. Timing and implementation details of the sanctions repeal remain unclear.

What People Are Saying:

• Israeli official, KAN News, said: “The U.S. decision to remove sanctions entirely was unexpected, but we were assured there would be compensation.”
• Analysts at Reuters noted: “The repeal of sanctions could reduce leverage over Syrian President Ahmed al-Shaara, complicating Israeli diplomacy in the region.”

What Happens Next:
Congressional and executive actions will determine when the sanctions repeal takes effect. Future U.S.-Israeli discussions may address alternative tools to influence Syria, though no public meetings are scheduled yet.