House Republicans Demand Accountability Before Lifting Syria Sanctions

Here are the facts. The Trump administration is preparing to repeal longstanding sanctions against Syria, and more than 100 House Republicans are rightfully demanding that we proceed with caution and accountability.

Representatives Josh Brecheen of Oklahoma and Marlin Stutzman of Indiana are leading 134 GOP lawmakers in a critical effort to ensure the Syrian government actually complies with terms established in the National Defense Authorization Act before sanctions relief becomes permanent. This is not merely bureaucratic hand-wringing. This is prudent governance.

The lawmakers are calling for snapback provisions, meaning if Syria fails to meet its obligations, sanctions would be immediately reinstated. This is precisely the kind of verification mechanism that should have been built into the Iran nuclear deal but was not. We cannot repeat those mistakes.

The Republican statement emphasized that members of Congress “committed to seeking peace, prosperity, and tolerance for religious minorities in the region” worked directly with the Trump administration and House leadership to secure these assurances. That language matters. Religious minorities, particularly Christians, have been systematically persecuted throughout Syria. Any sanctions relief must be contingent on verifiable protections for these vulnerable populations.

This debate occurs against a sobering backdrop. President Trump recently joined military officials at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware for the dignified transfer of two U.S. soldiers killed in an ISIS ambush in Syria. The President and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth stood solemnly as flag-draped transfer cases containing the remains of fallen service members, including Iowa National Guardsman Sergeant William Nathaniel Howard, arrived home.

These deaths underscore a fundamental reality that cannot be ignored. Syria remains a dangerous theater where American interests and American lives are at stake. ISIS has not been completely eradicated, despite significant progress during Trump’s first term. The terrorist organization maintains a presence in Syria, and our troops remain vulnerable.

The question before Congress is straightforward. Should we lift sanctions on a government that has not definitively demonstrated its commitment to stability, protection of religious minorities, and cooperation with American interests? The answer, according to these 134 Republicans, is not without ironclad guarantees and enforcement mechanisms.

This represents a mature approach to foreign policy. It is neither reflexive interventionism nor naive isolationism. It is conditional engagement based on verification and accountability. Ronald Reagan famously said “trust, but verify” regarding the Soviet Union. That principle applies equally to Syria.

The Trump administration has shown willingness to negotiate and pursue diplomatic solutions where possible. That is commendable. But diplomacy without enforcement mechanisms is simply wishful thinking. The Republican lawmakers demanding these oversight provisions are not undermining the administration. They are strengthening its negotiating position by making clear that sanctions relief is not guaranteed, but earned.

Syria must demonstrate tangible progress on multiple fronts: combating terrorism, protecting religious minorities, and cooperating with regional stability efforts. If Damascus meets these conditions, sanctions relief may be warranted. If not, snapback provisions must be triggered immediately.

This is how serious nations conduct foreign policy. With clear expectations, verifiable compliance, and consequences for failure. Anything less would be irresponsible.

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