Assad

Other bodies no longer subject to asset freezes include a number of media organisations and Syria's intelligence agencies, although these were dissolved after the overthrow of Assad.

The sanctions were previously imposed on people involved in repressing civilians in Syria, as well as those supporting or benefitting from the Assad regime.

In March the UK lifted asset freezes on 24 Syrian bodies previously used by the Assad regime to fund the oppression of civilians, including the Central Bank of Syria, Syrian Arab Airlines and energy companies.

The processing of asylum claims for the thousands of Syrians in the UK was paused in December, with the Home Office saying it was assessing the situation following the fall of Assad.

The European Union and the US have also been gradually lifting sanctions on Syria, which were imposed following Assad's crackdown on pro-democracy protests in 2011.