The United Kingdom has lifted asset freezes on Syria’s Defense and Interior Ministries as well as some of its broadcasters and intelligence agencies, according to a statement by the British Treasury released Thursday.

The statement from the Treasury said asset freezes were revoked for the following entities:

• Air Force Intelligence Agency
• Army Supply Bureau
• General Intelligence Directorate
• General Organization of Radio and TV
• Military Intelligence Directorate
• Ministry of Defense
• Ministry of Interior
• Political Security Directorate
• Syrian National Security Bureau
• Cham Press TV
• Sama TV
• Al Watan

The statement did not give a reason for the delisting. Al-Monitor has contacted the UK Treasury for further comment.

Why it matters: Western states are now changing their policies toward Syria after rebels led by the Islamist Hayat Tahrir al-Sham overthrew President Bashar Al-Assad and seized power on Dec. 8, after more than 13 years of civil war. The Assad dynasty's iron-fisted rule over Syria lasted for more than five decades and ended with Assad and his family fleeing to Moscow.