Trump's decision to lift Syria sanctions took Treasury staff by surprise

Washington — For the leaders of Syria's transitional government, President Trump's announcement earlier this week that the U.S. would lift all sanctions on the country came as a relief after months of intense lobbying for a reprieve. 

"I will be ordering the cessation of sanctions against Syria in order to give them a chance at greatness," Mr. Trump said at an investment forum in Saudi Arabia's capital, Riyadh, on Tuesday. 

But inside the Treasury Department, which administers and enforces sanctions policy, the announcement came as a surprise to senior officials, sources tell CBS News.