A UNITED NATIONS envoy today called for a quick end to Western sanctions against Syria as the country’s new leaders, and regional and global powers, begin to chart a path forward following the fall of President Bashar al-Assad.

This came as the Israelis continued to mount heavy air attacks on Syria and has occupied part of Syrian territory.

The Syrian government has been under strict sanctions by the United States, the European Union and others for years after anti-government protests in 2011 later spiralled into a civil war.

The rebel alliance that ousted Mr Assad faces a nation deeply isolated by tough international sanctions, which compounded Syria’s previous economic troubles. 

UN envoy to Syria Geir Pedersen told reporters in Damascus that setting Syria back on track after the past few tumultuous weeks will be helped by a speedy relief of sanctions.

“We can hopefully see a quick end to the sanctions so that we can really see a rallying around the building of Syria,” he said.

Mr Pedersen travelled to Damascus to meet officials from the new interim government set up by the former opposition forces who toppled Mr Assad, led by the jihadist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS).

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Saturday that his officials have also been in direct contact with the group.

But the chance for the people of Syria to determine their own futures seems fairly remote.

Over the weekend, Mr Blinken attended an emergency meeting in Jordan where he said he secured the backing of 12 foreign ministers from the Arab League, Turkey and top officials from the EU and UN on how Syria should be run in the future.

They agreed that the new government should respect the rights of minorities and women, prevent terror groups from taking hold, ensure humanitarian aid reaches those in need, and secure and destroy any remaining Assad-era chemical weapons. 

Meanwhile the head of HTS, Ahmad al-Sharaa,  said Israel has “crossed the rules of engagement with Syria but he said his country was not about to enter a conflict with the Israelis.”

This comes after more than 400 Israeli air strikes in the past days have destroyed much of Syria’s army assets.