The Syrian government has been under strict sanctions by the United States, the European Union and others for years.

The United Nations special envoy for Syria has called for a quick end to Western sanctions after the ouster of President Bashar Assad

After 50 years of dictatorship, Syrians have their voices back

Just a week after President Bashir al-Assad's regime was toppled by the Islamist HTS rebel group, people were going about their lives as usual in Syria's capital, Damascus, shopping and socialising - and with surprisingly few armed rebels patrolling the streets.

At Damascus’ international airport, the new head of security — one of the rebels who marched across Syria to the capital — arrived with his team. The few maintenance workers who showed up for work huddled around Maj Hamza al-Ahmed,

Syrian rebels, suddenly in charge, met a population bursting with emotions: excitement at new freedoms; grief over years of repression; and hopes, expectations and worries about the future.