In a huge development, Italy has broken with its G-7 partners and become the first to restore full diplomatic relations with Syria. President Bashar al-Assad and his government have long been under US and EU sanctions, having been accused of human rights abuses and war crimes by the West, which funded a decade-long jihadist insurgency in a failed attempt to topple the Syrian leader.

“Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, speaking in front of relevant parliamentary committees Thursday, announced Rome’s intention to re-establish diplomatic ties with Syria to prevent Russia from monopolizing diplomatic efforts in the Middle Eastern country,” Associated Press reports.

But increasingly these same powers are admitting that sanctions have only served to starve and compound the suffering for the common populace, and have in no way actually weakened the government’s grip on the country.

https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/italy-becomes-first-g-7-country-restore-ties-assad