A series of Western sanctions are crippling Syria’s economy and threatening its recovery after 14 years of civil war.

USA Former President Bashar al-Assad and his regime are under U.S. and European Union sanctions for crimes committed during the war, which began in 2011 after a crackdown on pro-democracy protesters.

Although Assad has now stepped down, sanctions remain in place, including against Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS)is the main group that overthrew Assad and is currently leading the transition in Syria.

some european officials Recently said they would not lift sanctions unless Syria’s new rulers took a stand They will protect minorities and share power.

German Foreign Minister Annalena Berbock traveled to Syria with her French counterpart on January 3. Their task, she said, was to “discuss whether such an inclusive political process is possible and whether human rights can truly be guaranteed.”

“The whole issue of lifting sanctions is tied to this,” she said.

Western sanctions are part of an effort to force Assad to change his actions, and Western policymakers believe the same measures are necessary against the new government. But many Syrians believe sanctions could cause Syria’s political transition to fail as the country struggles to recover from years of destruction and isolation.

Here’s everything you need to know about Western sanctions and how they’re affecting Syria.

How many times has Syria been subject to sanctions?

In 1979, when Assad’s father Hafez came to power, the United States labeled Syria a state sponsor of “terrorism.” The regime was slapped with additional targeted sanctions in 2004 over its long-standing occupation of Lebanon and what Washington said was its support for “terrorism.”

Shortly after mass protests against Bashar al-Assad erupted in 2011, the United States and the European Union imposed targeted sanctions on a handful of government officials in response to a brutal crackdown on opposition.

United States and European Union Wider sanctions on Syria plunged deeper into chaos, hitting central banks and the power and energy industries.

These sanctions prevent the government from buying or trading currency to stabilize its currency, allowing much of the country to keep functioning and import almost any form of technology.

The United States subsequently passed the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act in 2019, which effectively prohibited states and private companies from doing business with the Assad government.

In addition, the United States, the European Union, and the United Nations Security Council have designated HTS a “terrorist” organization due to its past ties to Al Qaeda, which continues to make Western powers nervous about lifting sanctions.

Do these sanctions still apply?

And they did.

Jerome Drevon, Syria expert at the International Crisis Group (ICG), said the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act and HTS’s “terrorist” designation were the most frustrating.

The former, he said, indirectly affects all levels of the Syrian economy by effectively preventing the country from importing and exporting goods and raw materials.

He told Al Jazeera that the “terrorist” designation on HTS had a similar effect.

“Any government (HTS)-related transactions or investments in the country… can be viewed through the lens of supporting terrorism,” Drevon explained.

Will sanctions hurt aid operations?

Very.

According to Human Rights Watch (HRW), the United States and the European Union have issued multiple exemptions to maintain relief operations, but sanctions still have a profound impact on aid organizations.

Aid groups often have to overcome costly bureaucratic hurdles to ensure banks and exporters do not violate U.S. or EU sanctions, which carry hefty fines and the risk of jail time.

These obstacles often lead to long delays in the delivery of aid inside Syria. Worse, even with exemptions, the risk of sanctions violations can have a chilling effect, severely limiting the aid response.

Human Rights Watch said many banks and private companies preferred not to cooperate with aid agencies, even if they were confident they would not violate U.S. and EU sanctions.

“Major political parties and financial institutions tend to avoid dealing directly or indirectly with Syrian individuals or entities, even in non-sanctions areas,” Human Rights Watch wrote in a report released last year.

Should sanctions be lifted?

new syrian government has urged the United States Others called for the lifting of sanctions, saying the move was crucial to Syria’s self-reconstruction.

Draven believes that most sanctions should be lifted.

He told Al Jazeera that the vast majority of sanctions Syria inherited today were designed to punish the Assad regime.

He said those sanctions should be lifted now that the regime has collapsed.

Dreven warned that without viable alternatives, sanctions could isolate Syria and force more civilians to take up arms and enter the illicit economy.

“Sanctions threaten the stability of the country in the medium term,” he told Al Jazeera. “Indeed, we have to imagine the extent to which armed groups will be present in different parts of the country and engage in smuggling and the black market to make a living.”

Is it too late to lift sanctions?

The short answer is no.

The United States has moved to issue waivers that allow aid groups and private entities to bypass sanctions and expand relief efforts in the country, the Wall Street Journal reported.

An advocate who spoke on condition of anonymity told Al Jazeera that based on conversations with members of the US government, the suspension of sanctions would be “broad” and would effectively allow for direct dealings with the current authorities.

The suspension of sanctions will also effectively enable many commercial transactions to proceed with the government, according to the ICG’s Drevon.

The suspension will last about six months before incoming U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s administration will decide whether to maintain or lift sanctions on Syria.

Draven said the U.S. move was a good first step, but more was needed to stabilize Syria’s delicate transition.

“You can suspend sanctions, but that doesn’t necessarily incentivize private sector investment,” Draven told Al Jazeera. “How far can anyone invest for the long term if no one knows whether the pause will last for a long time?”