Syria has banned the import of goods from Russia, Iran, and Israel.

The Ministry of Finance of Syria has imposed a ban on the import of goods from Russia, Iran, and Israel. Goods from these countries will be confiscated from sellers. This was reported on Monday, January 20, by Forbes Ukraine citing the Alarabiya TV channel.

The ministry explained that the import ban on goods from the mentioned countries is aimed at supporting local production and stimulating the economy. The new Syrian government hopes that these measures will contribute to strengthening the industry and developing the domestic market.

Additionally, the Syrian government has declared the US dollar as the official currency and reduced customs duties by 50-60%. Alarabiya notes that after the overthrow of Bashar Assad's regime, the volume of goods imported into local Syrian markets has significantly increased.

Currently, in the capital city of Damascus, one can purchase products from Turkish, Saudi, and other international brands, such as Twix and Snickers chocolates, Pepsi drinks, and more.

The Center for Counteracting Disinformation at the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine reported that the position of the new Syrian government regarding Iran and Israel is understandable. Iran actively supported Bashar al-Assad's regime, while Israel occupied the Syrian part of the demilitarized buffer zone. The inclusion of Russia in this "enemies list" indicates at least quite strong negative sentiments towards Moscow within the country.

“After the overthrow of the Assad regime, the Kremlin is trying to establish cooperation with the new government of the country to maintain its military bases in Syria and influence in the region. However, the spread of such sentiments in Syria may indicate that Moscow, at least for now, is far from achieving a positive outcome,” analysts explain.

Change of Power in Syria

On December 8, 2024, the Syrian rebel group “Hayat Tahrir al-Sham” (HTS) announced the liberation of the Syrian capital, Damascus. Subsequently, opposition representative Hadi al-Bahra declared the fall of Bashar Assad's government. The rebels also claimed that they had supposedly put an end to their extremist past and would work towards a peaceful transfer of power.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine reacted to the overthrow of Assad's regime in Syria and confirmed its readiness to restore relations with the country in the future.

On December 14, Reuters reported that Ukraine is ready to supply grain to Syria instead of the Russian Federation. Russia halted food supplies to the country due to uncertainty in relations with the new government and delays in payments.

At the end of December, Ukraine sent 500 tons of flour to Syria as part of the humanitarian program “Grain from Ukraine.”

At the beginning of the year, President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that Ukraine would enhance humanitarian aid to Syria and expand trade partnerships with Lebanon and other African countries.