Syria GL 22 authorizes certain activities in non-regime held areas of northeast and northwest Syria in the following economic sectors: agriculture; information and telecommunications; power grid infrastructure; construction; finance; clean energy; transportation and warehousing; water and waste management; health services; education; manufacturing; and trade. This includes activities in the areas of northeast and northwest Syria identified in the Annex in Syria GL 22, in support of transactions and activities that fall within the categories listed above, including:
- the provision of agricultural-related services (such as the production of agricultural inputs, agricultural processing facilities, and the distribution of equipment and spare parts for machinery used in crop and livestock production);
- the provision of information and telecommunications-related services (such as reestablishment of telecommunications infrastructure, the promotion of internet connectivity for the Syrian people, and support for media and journalists);
- the provision of power grid infrastructure and clean energy-related services (such as rehabilitation of distribution grids and lines, transformers or substations; and maintenance of power stations);
- activities to support construction-related services (such as repairs to residential buildings; rehabilitation of health facilities, schools, bakeries, irrigation pumps, and canals; and supplying associated spare parts, training, and support for maintenance of equipment);
- the provision of financial-related services in support of the sectors outlined in Syria GL 22 (such as the provision of grants and loans, and entry into contracts to support private capital investments and trade);
- the provision of transportation and warehousing-related services (such as rehabilitation of roads, bridges, waterways, and pipelines; and supplying associated technologies for alternative energy for transportation);
- the provision of water and waste management-related services (such as rehabilitation of solid waste and medical disposal sites; and treatment of sewage and irrigation systems);
- the provision of healthcare and health-related services (such as the distribution of medical equipment, supplies, and pharmaceuticals; and technical training for and supervision of healthcare workers);
- the provision of educational-related services (such as the rehabilitation of schools; the provision of training and equipment support to local educators; training and equipment support to local officials on the operations and management of critical infrastructure; the provision of vocational and business management training; and the preservation and protection of cultural heritage sites); and
- activities to support trade, including manufacturing of civilian-use goods directly benefiting the people in non-regime held areas of northeast and northwest Syria.
Additionally, Syria GL 22 authorizes U.S. financial institutions to process transfers of funds in support of the authorized transactions and activities outlined above.
Separately, non-U.S. persons, including foreign financial institutions, do not risk exposure to U.S. secondary sanctions pursuant to the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act of 2019 for engaging in or facilitating transactions and activities that are otherwise authorized or exempt for U.S. persons under the SySR. Please see FAQ 884 for additional information.
Please note that this guidance does not apply to transactions and activities that may be subject to prohibitions under other sanctions programs administered by OFAC (e.g., transactions with persons blocked under OFAC’s counterterrorism authority (E.O. 13224, as amended) or OFAC’s Syria-related authority (E.O. 13894)), unless exempt or otherwise authorized by OFAC. Any persons seeking to operate in non-regime held areas of northeast and northwest Syria must ensure their in-country activities do not involve prohibited transactions and activities or blocked persons, such as the Government of Syria or designated terrorist organizations.
For transactions and activities not otherwise authorized or exempt from sanctions, OFAC will consider license requests on a case-by-case basis. Individuals, companies, or financial institutions with questions about engaging in or processing transactions related to this authorization can contact the OFAC Compliance Hotline.
Additionally, U.S. and non-U.S. persons may need to obtain a license from the Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) for the export or reexport or certain items subject to Export Administration Regulations (EAR). For further guidance regarding the exportation or reexportation of items to Syria, please contact BIS at (202) 482-4252.