Question 1

Why are services still blocked in Syria if sanctions have been lifted?

Accepted Answer

During the Assad era, the United States, the European Union, and other jurisdictions imposed comprehensive sanctions on Syria. In response, many technology companies blocked access from Syria entirely — often through IP-based geo-restrictions or by removing Syria from their list of supported countries.

Since the fall of the Assad regime in December 2024, both the U.S. and EU have dismantled their Syria sanctions programs. However, many companies have not yet updated their compliance policies to reflect the current regulatory reality. In some cases, companies are unaware of the changes. In others, internal compliance reviews are proceeding slowly, or companies have defaulted to maintaining restrictions out of caution rather than legal necessity.

Question 2

What is UnblockSyria?

Accepted Answer

UnblockSyria is a community-driven platform that tracks which digital services remain blocked in Syria following the lifting of international sanctions. We document the status of hundreds of services, compile official regulatory resources from the U.S. and EU, and provide a channel for the Syrian community to report blocked services and prioritize which ones matter most. Companies that have restored access can reach out to us directly to update their status — we highlight every company that takes this step. Our goal is to close the gap between the current regulatory reality and corporate action, ensuring that the lifting of sanctions translates into actual access for the people of Syria.

Question 3

Has the United States fully lifted sanctions on Syria?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The United States no longer maintains a comprehensive Syria Sanctions program. The sanctions were removed in stages: on June 30, 2025, Executive Order 14312 terminated the Syria Sanctions Program, effective July 1, 2025. On August 26, 2025, OFAC formally removed the Syrian Sanctions Regulations (31 CFR Part 542) from the Code of Federal Regulations. On December 18, 2025, the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act was repealed as part of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026. The U.S. State Department now explicitly states: "The United States no longer maintains a comprehensive Syria Sanctions program." Full documentation is available on our Resources page.

Question 4

What about U.S. export controls? Companies say their products are classified EAR99 and require a license.

Accepted Answer

This is one of the most common misconceptions. While many software products are indeed classified as EAR99 under the Export Administration Regulations, EAR99 items no longer require an individual license for export or reexport to Syria. On September 2, 2025, the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) introduced License Exception SPP (Syria Peace and Prosperity), codified at 15 CFR § 740.5. This exception authorizes the export or reexport of all EAR99 items to Syria, provided the transaction does not involve a restricted end-user or end-use under Part 744 of the EAR. In practical terms: standard commercial software, cloud services, and SaaS platforms classified as EAR99 can be provided to users in Syria without any additional licensing. Companies citing EAR99 as a reason to continue blocking Syria are relying on an outdated reading of the regulations.

Question 5

Are there any remaining U.S. restrictions that could apply?

Accepted Answer

For items classified as EAR99 — which includes the vast majority of commercial software and cloud services — the only applicable restrictions are standard end-use and end-user controls under Part 744 of the EAR. These controls apply globally, not specifically to Syria, and prohibit transactions involving designated parties or certain end-uses of concern such as weapons proliferation. Standard due diligence is all that is required.

Certain broader country-level designations remain in place, which means items classified above EAR99 on the Commerce Control List may still face additional requirements. However, this does not affect EAR99 items, which are fully authorized under License Exception SPP. For standard commercial software, SaaS platforms, and cloud services — which are classified as EAR99 — no Syria-specific licensing or restrictions apply.

Question 6

Has the European Union lifted sanctions on Syria?

Accepted Answer

Yes. On May 28, 2025, the EU Council formally adopted legal acts lifting all economic sanctions on Syria, including Council Regulation (EU) 2025/1098 and related implementing decisions. The Council removed restrictive measures across key economic sectors and delisted major institutions, including the Central Bank of Syria and companies in oil, telecommunications, and other sectors critical to economic recovery. The only remaining EU measures are targeted asset freezes and travel bans on specific individuals linked to the former Assad regime, scheduled for review by June 1, 2026. These individual designations do not restrict companies from providing services to users in Syria.

Question 7

What steps should a company take to restore access for users in Syria?

Accepted Answer

For most software and cloud service providers, the process is straightforward. First, review the current regulatory status — confirm that both U.S. and EU sanctions on Syria have been fully lifted. Our Resources page compiles official government documents for this purpose. Second, assess your product classification — if your product is classified as EAR99 (which covers most commercial software), License Exception SPP authorizes its provision to Syria with no additional licensing required. Third, conduct standard screening — apply the same end-use and end-user due diligence you would for any other market. No Syria-specific screening is required beyond standard compliance procedures. Finally, update your geo-restrictions — remove Syria from any blocked-country lists in your access controls. Major technology platforms have already completed this process and restored access within weeks of the regulatory changes taking effect.

Question 8

A company says it needs a license or is still conducting a compliance review. How should we understand that?

Accepted Answer

If a company claims it needs a license to serve Syria, it is worth asking which specific regulation they believe requires one. In many cases, companies are operating on outdated information from before the sanctions were lifted. For products classified as EAR99 — which includes most commercial software and SaaS — License Exception SPP (15 CFR § 740.5) explicitly authorizes exports and reexports to Syria. No individual license is required. If a company cites a licensing requirement, the relevant question is whether they have assessed whether License Exception SPP applies to their product, or whether the requirement is being triggered by a specific end-user or end-use restriction under Part 744. If the company says it is still reviewing, a reasonable follow-up is to ask for a timeline and to share the relevant BIS and OFAC guidance to assist their review.

Question 9

A company acknowledges sanctions have been lifted but says blocking Syria is their "internal policy." What does that mean?

Accepted Answer

It means the decision to block Syria is a business choice, not a legal requirement. No current U.S. or EU regulation requires companies to block Syria. The legal frameworks that previously mandated these restrictions have been repealed and removed. Companies are free to set their own policies about where they operate, but when a company frames a voluntary business decision as a compliance matter — or implies that legal barriers exist when they do not — it is important to recognize the distinction. Major technology companies have already reviewed the updated regulations and restored access to Syria. A company that chooses to remain blocked is exercising a business preference, not fulfilling a legal obligation.

Question 10

How can I help get services unblocked?

Accepted Answer

Report services that are still blocked on this platform so we can track them and prioritize outreach. Vote for the services you need most so that companies and advocates can focus where the impact is greatest. Share our Resources page with compliance and legal teams at companies that still block Syria — it contains the official government documents they need to verify the current regulatory status. If you work at a company that blocks Syria, raise the issue with your legal or compliance team and point them to the current regulatory guidance.

Question 11

Where can I find official documents to share with a company?

Accepted Answer

Our Resources page compiles official U.S. and EU government documents, including OFAC announcements, BIS guidance on Syria export controls, the EU Council's decisions, and the relevant CFR and regulation references. These resources are specifically organized to help companies verify the current regulatory status and complete their internal compliance reviews. If you are engaging with a company's legal or compliance team, sharing this page directly is the most effective starting point.

About Unblock Syria

Our Mission

How It Works

Discover

Vote

Advocate

Team

Contributors

Official Sponsors

Frequently Asked Questions

General

Regulatory Status

For Companies

Getting Involved

Our Mission

How It Works

Discover

Vote

Advocate

Team

Contributors

Official Sponsors

Frequently Asked Questions

General

1Why are services still blocked in Syria if sanctions have been lifted?

2What is UnblockSyria?

Regulatory Status

3Has the United States fully lifted sanctions on Syria?

4What about U.S. export controls? Companies say their products are classified EAR99 and require a license.

5Are there any remaining U.S. restrictions that could apply?

6Has the European Union lifted sanctions on Syria?

For Companies

7What steps should a company take to restore access for users in Syria?

8A company says it needs a license or is still conducting a compliance review. How should we understand that?

9A company acknowledges sanctions have been lifted but says blocking Syria is their "internal policy." What does that mean?

Getting Involved

10How can I help get services unblocked?

11Where can I find official documents to share with a company?