Bethany Haines read out the last text message she would ever receive from her father, David Haines, before he was abducted and killed by ISIS over a decade ago.

The latest decision comes after the European Union lifted several sanctions across banking and energy on Syria on Feb. 24.

The conflict poses a challenge for the new interim president as he tries to unify Syria and extend his authority over the entire country.

On Monday, the former reporter Nicolas Hénin recounted every date, every abuse he suffered, every companion he met during his 10 months in captivity. He spoke of a duty to testify and the hope of 'turning the page.

Syria holds a significant place in French foreign policy, especially when considered in the context of the historical relations between the two countries. Syria became a League of Nations mandate between 1923-1943,