Syria’s Abraham Accord Gamble: Can Al-Sharaa Deliver Normalization Amid US Troop Cuts?

Syria’s interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa is exploring normalization with Israel and potential Abraham Accords membership, contingent on sanctions relief and resolving Israeli occupation in southwestern Syria, U.S. Congressman Cory Mills reports. Meanwhile, the UK lifted sanctions on 12 Syrian government entities, including the Ministries of Defence and Interior, post-Assad regime. This follows unfreezing assets of the Central Bank of Syria in March. Simultaneously, the U.S. rejected Israel’s request for a larger troop presence in northeast Syria amidst ongoing troop drawdown and Turkish-Israeli talks. These developments occur against the backdrop of the Syrian Civil War, which began in 2011, resulting in a large-scale humanitarian crisis. In December 2024, the Assad regime fell, led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS). The conflict has caused mass displacement, food insecurity, and economic decline, leaving millions in need of assistance.