Trapped Funds: The Fate of Syrian Deposits in Lebanese Banks Since the collapse of Lebanon’s banking system in 2019, over $120 billion in deposits have been blocked, including billions belonging to Syrians. Thousands of Syrian depositors lost access to a vital financial lifeline, stripping the Syrian economy of capital at a time when it was already under severe strain. What is the situation now?
Billions of Syrian deposits remain stuck in Lebanese banks, but the exact amounts are highly disputed.
Syrian depositors have no legal recourse amid regulatory uncertainty.
The banking collapse in Lebanon has weakened Syria’s economy, with no clear path to recovery.
Unlocking Syrian deposits could jump-start reconstruction. Will Syrian authorities and their Lebanese counterparts find a solution? Currently they fight a legal vacuum.