WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump on Monday lifted sanctions against Syria, though his executive order stopped well short of easing pressure on former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. In signing the order,

President Donald Trump signed on Monday an executive order terminating a US sanctions programme on Syria, allowing an end to the country's isolation from the international financial system and building on Washington's pledge to help it rebuild after a devastating civil war.

The collapse of the Assad regime was expected to increase instability, but so far Ahmed Al-Sharaa has attempted to make inroads with the West.