The authorization comes after rebels toppled the Syrian government last month and is intended to allow humanitarian groups to operate more freely without running afoul of U.S. sanctions.

The decision by the outgoing Biden administration will send a signal of goodwill to Syria's new Islamist rulers.

US officials on Monday loosened sanctions on Syria, easing the flow of aid into the war-torn country, but Washington is expected to maintain a terrorism designation on the group that makes up the new government.