WASHINGTON — A month after the rebel offensive that toppled Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, the United States announced a 6-month waiver to ease the delivery of humanitarian aid to the heavily sanctioned country.

The Biden administration stopped short of lifting the sweeping sanctions imposed during the civil war to punish the Assad regime, a decision that is expected to fall to President-elect Donald Trump when he takes office later this month.

The measure unveiled Monday, known as a general license, authorizes certain transactions with the new Syrian government for six months. It’s meant to reassure aid organizations and banks wary of transferring money into Syria that humanitarian activities, including the provision of water, electricity and energy, won’t violate US sanctions on the country.

The top American diplomat for the Middle East, Barbara Leaf, told Al-Monitor in a Dec. 20 phone briefing........

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