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,

U.S. officials said sanctions against targets such as its central bank would end, but they would remain on Syria’s former dictator, Bashar al-Assad.

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.