The Trump administration issued orders Friday to begin easing sanctions on Syria, marking a major policy shift after US President Donald Trump pledged earlier this month to roll back the measures during a trip to the Middle East.

The president promised to ease sanctions on the war-torn nation when he met with its new leader this month. Most financial transactions with Syria were banned.

The Trump administration granted Syria sweeping exemptions from sanctions on Saturday in a big first step toward fulfilling the US President’s pledge to lift a half-century of penalties on a country shattered by 13 years of civil war.