[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":72,"_74":72},"mediaId",6212557,"mediaKeyId","3683903-c2b0cf830b2fbb2472e2ae5a483e47a2","parentId",3683903,"title","Experts warn Congress that Russia, Iran and regional rivals could exploit Syria’s transition","audioSeconds",1772,"startMs",1754000,"endMs",3526000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3683903-c2b0cf830b2fbb2472e2ae5a483e47a2&start=1754&end=3526","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3683903-c2b0cf830b2fbb2472e2ae5a483e47a2/thumbnail_1754000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6212557/Experts-warn-Congress-that-Russia-Iran-and-regional-rivals-could-exploit-Syrias-transition","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6212557-7f8df0f8e3a6c77de836f15ef1e0019f/orig.mp4?Expires=1773543466&Signature=dZwvJUGMGJMgjqodYhsE-O4b38Xdjv~K02U6O8izvLHGbv8wf85zGkRQE1EGhUAHkHmvIsdfsTSbspmNIh1-ngsh6gdErooF-TPU7JQdtSvG3YQL~GBUluDMKBB3q96bnLyVdVHF~uxJGTD1oeZsDStzVuFP4ilNlNsc1kA2WmVrDlch~4jyhmUSndXZ5~F1jD7trTsXEpRJPp56VunzXmgh2N0KDrKPdoRZHH43Dzmivgln8LFi~lT~9g4GLhYY3s1ellANQkW09o4PxmDK79WWan4MUGwArM3v5PPPcJUSQddluwgjkv5gTWtsVe0~yx5Yo7Z-PI1uQ62o8o15Kg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","U.S. House Committee on Foreign Affairs","date","2025-06-02T16:54:12Z","article","Witnesses before the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee argued that post‑Assad Syria is a strategic prize for Russia, Iran and other regional actors and that the United States should use diplomatic and economic tools to limit Moscow and Tehran’s ability to exploit reconstruction.

Anna Borshevskaya said Russia views Syria and the Eastern Mediterranean as central to its regional strategy and warned Moscow “seeks to replace our influence and remake the world order with itself at the center.” She recommended limiting Russia’s ability to profit from Syrian reconstruction by targeting illicit shipping and economic intermediaries she described as the Kremlin’s “ghost fleet.”

Panelists highlighted two Russian bases and other foreign military presences as leverage points for Moscow’s regional projection. Members asked whether Russia could maintain a nominal degree of control over those bases; witnesses said Russia has a real chance to do so unless the United States and its partners demonstrate sustained engagement.

Several witnesses suggested coordinating reconstruction efforts so that Gulf and Western funding does not inadvertently channel profits to Russian or Iranian actors, and they proposed sanctions or other measures against entities that help Moscow monetize Syria’s recovery. David Schenker and others noted recent contract shifts at Tartus Port, where a previously Russian engineering firm was removed and an $800 million deal with Dubai Ports World was cited as an example of changing economic alignments.

Witnesses also recommended practical steps for deconfliction among regional militaries — for example urging Israel and Turkey to establish hotlines to prevent unintended escalation — and urged Congress to press for a coherent interagency approach and allied unity to undercut Russian and Iranian influence.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","After Assad: The Future of Syria","oneSentenceSummary","Witnesses told a House subcommittee that Russia and Iran have strategic incentives to retain footholds in Syria and urged U.S. diplomacy and targeted measures — including sanctions on entities that profit from reconstruction — to prevent Moscow and Tehran from gaining leverage.","taxTitle","Foreign Affairs: House Committee, Standing Committees - House & Senate, Congressional Hearings Compilation, Legislative, Federal","taxId",1826,"location","","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":72,"_74":72},6212562,"Committee hears warnings about foreign fighters, detainees and integration risks in post‑Assad Syria",677,1538000,2215000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3683903-c2b0cf830b2fbb2472e2ae5a483e47a2&start=1538&end=2215","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3683903-c2b0cf830b2fbb2472e2ae5a483e47a2/thumbnail_1538000.jpg","/articles/6212562/Committee-hears-warnings-about-foreign-fighters-detainees-and-integration-risks-in-postAssad-Syria","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6212562-8835cc71c30b199110af4c660bebabf9/orig.mp4?Expires=1773543466&Signature=VRQydT~mHIISCdisxwwLxyYSbYPCS7UguVnBkOuD5DNNeXJ8hBAGeosdTISB2pV96qDPiHPUa2VLydV6rMOEY82hLjaiR1XzN~kc5qD9Pnu5-IKY7i-DnOtXr29UVnACV12qdEzvVqo91EhNNAWemPxUspfP2PtkZDP~AGlwErYQseCm6jbl0u37oV5WqspAoSbvc1aaCt--YaoiwH2YkMCF7Unn6TssUQBxeROEopuvsWXM6EEpGU~KhIrLVOvYMaroIkfsFwb3pwprYTZoEkJt~o6rMnYkuHyYPczrx2gipuvpXUbk~4MzCvG77s0BMR3KKkjDwdkl4iM9peNzrg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Members of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee and expert witnesses warned that the handling of foreign fighters and detention centers in northeast Syria is among the most urgent security challenges after the fall of Bashar al‑Assad.

David Schenker said the interim Syrian authorities have asked to integrate about 3,500 foreign fighters into military units and that “integration of these jihadis doesn't solve the problem. It defers it.” He and other witnesses said integration without strong vetting, discipline and accountability risks long‑term security problems.

Witnesses underscored the scale and difficulty of the detainee issue. John B. Alterman said foreign jihadis and thousands of associated individuals remain in detention centers in northeastern Syria and that “foreign fighters constitute an even bigger challenge for Al Sharra.” Members noted that many countries refuse to repatriate former ISIS members, leaving camps and prisons in Syria as a continued regional and global security concern.

Committee members asked how the United States and partners can press for safe custody, proper documentation and transparent processes for eventual repatriation or prosecution. Representatives and witnesses pointed to existing U.S. counterterrorism cooperation with local partners and said continued liaison and intelligence sharing are essential to prevent the resurgence of ISIS.

Although members expressed differing views on immediate policies, the hearing produced no formal votes or directives. Several witnesses recommended using continued conditional engagement and international coordination as leverage to ensure detainees are managed safely and that repatriation plans are pursued with partner states.","Witnesses and members raised concerns about the fate of thousands of foreign fighters and detainees in northeast Syria, criticized the integration of roughly 3,500 fighters into armed units, and urged secure management and repatriation plans tied to any U.S. engagement.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":72,"_74":72},6212567,"House subcommittee presses for conditions on sanctions relief as U.S. seeks Syrian engagement",575,727000,1302000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3683903-c2b0cf830b2fbb2472e2ae5a483e47a2&start=727&end=1302","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3683903-c2b0cf830b2fbb2472e2ae5a483e47a2/thumbnail_727000.jpg","/articles/6212567/House-subcommittee-presses-for-conditions-on-sanctions-relief-as-US-seeks-Syrian-engagement","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6212567-d5a9c95569fc2eb822d6e864970f8fcf/orig.mp4?Expires=1773543466&Signature=SR8IQylDUBmKaGqb1kIjqfl11q5LB39jRIRzoief55fdrtbUwMDES~23oZNIOwImxzDmxb0jYHqcJZkUOFtQFeIUkmYnIftdreJNlJR8B5MeYt2o7lDHol~6UGjfPg2GmIOssAqZIQRYKJk7zFPHUHxRzNjc-8abC8dx9MbVFRTBDK6ux8pLiFH6vHyWmsAKsIXlOWEzP~MoMhQnbdDk5svc~Ov8EhQlBFWmGji1oDY6VxIOTLC~OApGabwcIRlnLpbQ2nFlt8ysDOSKeFiNQKhCSYzYPkaYJKtMIYbjlz9Vr6A2A~1po2En-fyJzVdXEwY2T-YeBTQ5gtcTseQdvQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Middle East and North Africa held a hearing to assess U.S. national security interests in post‑Assad Syria and to examine the administration’s decision to lift some sanctions and issue temporary waivers.

The hearing’s central debate concerned whether and how to condition U.S. economic reengagement with Syria. Chairman Lawler said the change in Damascus presents an opportunity but cautioned the United States must “be explicit with our goals for Syria,” naming counterterrorism cooperation and management of detention centers as top priorities. Ranking Member Sheila Sherfelis McCormick said the administration’s initial engagement — including a Treasury general license and a 180‑day waiver tied to the Caesar sanctions — required clearer, congressionally rooted guardrails. “A conditions‑based sanctions relief policy with clear timelines and matrices is critical,” she said.

Why it matters: witnesses and members warned that hastily restoring economic links could reward actors who enabled repression or allow Russia and Iran to profit from reconstruction. David Schenker, Taub senior fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy and a former assistant secretary of state, told the panel giving the interim authorities “a chance” may have been the lesser of bad options, but said Washington must retain leverage to reimpose penalties if commitments are not met.

Panelists stressed concrete tests and sustained monitoring. John B. Alterman, chair in global security and geostrategy at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, urged a modest, conditional U.S. strategy “anchored in coordination with allies and partners.” Anna Borshevskaya, a senior fellow at the Washington Institute, recommended targeting Russia’s ability to profit from reconstruction and suggested coordinated sanctions or measures against entities that help Moscow monetize post‑conflict activity.

Committee members repeatedly raised the need for benchmarks tied to: continued counterterrorism cooperation with U.S. forces, safe custody and resolution of foreign fighters and detainees, demonstrable steps to protect ethnic and religious minorities, disposal of chemical weapons stockpiles under international verification, and banking reforms to enable transparent foreign investment. Several members noted the lack of a published administration plan describing how waivers would be implemented and monitored.

The hearing did not produce formal committee action; members were told witnesses’ full statements would be entered into the record and additional questions may be submitted for the record.

The discussion sets up potential legislative follow‑up in Congress to define specific conditions, reporting requirements and authorities for restoring or reimposing sanctions on Syria.","A House Foreign Affairs subcommittee hearing focused on U.S. strategy toward post‑Assad Syria, with witnesses and members urging conditional sanctions relief, clear benchmarks on counterterrorism and minority protections, and coordinated international diplomacy to prevent Russian or Iranian gain.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Experts warn Congress that Russia, Iran and regional rivals could exploit Syria’s transition

Committee hears warnings about foreign fighters, detainees and integration risks in post‑Assad Syria

House subcommittee presses for conditions on sanctions relief as U.S. seeks Syrian engagement