Sanctions against Syria

Ongoing embargo imposed by the United States and other countries during the Syrian Civil War

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Bashar al-Assad

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* Early life
* Family
* Personal life

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* President of Syria

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* Secretary-General of the Syrian Ba'ath Party (2000–)

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* Presidency

* Damascus Spring
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* Governments

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Literature

* On the Way of Resurrection
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* Ba'athist Iraq
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| Arab Socialist Revolutionary Ba'ath Party| 1960-1962/63

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Socialist Lebanon| 1965-1970
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* Arab nationalism
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Syrian civil war

Timeline

*     * January–April 2011
* May–August 2011
* September–December 2011
* January–April 2012
* May–August 2012
* September–December 2012
* January–April 2013
* May–December 2013
* January–July 2014
* August–December 2014
* January–July 2015
* August–December 2015
* January–April 2016
* May–August 2016
* September–December 2016
* January–April 2017
* May–August 2017
* September–December 2017
* January–April 2018
* May–August 2018
* September–December 2018
* January–April 2019
* May–August 2019
* September–December 2019

* 2020
* 2021
* 2022
* 2023

* * *

* Background and causes
* Casualties
* Cities
* map
* Terrorism
* Massacres

* v
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Civil uprising in Syria (March–August 2011)

* Daraa
* Baniyas
* Homs (May–August 2011)
* Talkalakh
* Rastan and Talbiseh
* 1st Jisr ash-Shughur
* 1st Jabal al-Zawiya
* Hama
* Latakia

* v
* t
* e

Start of insurgency (Sept. 2011 – April 2012)

* Homs (2011–14)
* Homs offensive
* 1st Idlib Gov.
* Syrian–Turkish border
* Jabal al-Zawiya
* 1st Idlib City
* Saraqeb
* 1st Rastan
* Hama Gov.
* Shayrat & Tiyas ambush
* Daraa Gov.
* 1st Rif Dimashq
* 1st Zabadani
* Douma
* Deir ez-Zor (2011–2014)
* Hatla
* Aleppo Gov.
* Azaz
* 2nd Rastan
* 1st al-Qusayr
* 2nd Idlib Gov.
* Taftanaz

* v
* t
* e

UN ceasefire; Rebel advances (May 2012 – Dec. 2013)

* 3rd Rastan
* Houla
* Northern Homs
* Al-Haffah
* Al-Qubeir
* Al-Tremseh
* 3rd Idlib Gov.
* 1st Damascus
* Bombing
* Aleppo
* Anadan
* Menagh Air Base
* Base 46
* Khan al-Assal
* 1st Aleppo offensive
* 2nd Aleppo offensive
* Syrian Kurdistan and Kurdish–Islamist conflict
* Hasaka campaign
* Ras al-Ayn
* al-Yaarubiyah
* Tell Hamis and Tell Brak
* Tell Abyad
* Nubl & Al-Zahraa
* 2nd Rif Dimashq (1st Darayya)
* Abu al-Duhur Airbase
* Quneitra Gov.
* 3rd Rif Dimashq
* 1st Yarmouk camp
* 2nd Darayya
* Darayya & Muadamiyat
* Aqrab
* 1st Hama offensive
* Halfaya
* 1st Safira
* Shadadeh
* 2nd Damascus
* 1st Raqqa campaign (1st Raqqa)
* 1st Daraa offensive
* 4th Rif Dimashq
* Jdaidet al-Fadl
* Tadamon
* Ghouta
* Al-Qusayr offensive
* 2nd al-Qusayr
* Eastern Ghouta
* 2nd Hama offensive
* Bayda and Baniyas
* 1st Latakia offensive
* Ma'loula
* Sadad
* 5th Rif Dimashq
* 1st Qalamoun
* Adra

* v
* t
* e

Rise of the Islamic State (Jan. – Sept. 2014)

* Inter-rebel conflict
* Northern Aleppo
* Markada
* 1st Deir ez-Zor offensive
* al-Otaiba ambush
* Maan
* Hosn
* Morek
* 2nd Daraa offensive
* 2nd Latakia offensive
* 4th Idlib Gov.
* Al-Malihah
* 2nd Wadi Deif
* 2nd Qalamoun
* Arsal
* Deir ez-Zor (2014–2017)
* 1st Shaer gas field
* 1st Eastern Syria
* Tabqa Airbase
* 3rd Hama offensive
* 6th Rif Dimashq
* 1st Quneitra
* Kobanî

* v
* t
* e

U.S.-led intervention, Rebel & ISIL advances (Sept. 2014 – Sept. 2015)

* U.S.-led intervention
* Homs school bombing
* 3rd Daraa offensive
* 2nd Safira
* 2014 Idlib city raid
* Nusra–FSA conflict
* 2nd Shaer gas field
* 1st Al-Shaykh Maskin
* 2nd Deir ez-Zor offensive
* 3rd Aleppo offensive
* An-26 crash
* 4th Daraa offensive
* Southern Syria
* Eastern al-Hasakah offensive
* 1st Sarrin
* Hama/Homs offensive
* Bosra
* 5th Idlib Gov
* 2nd Idlib city
* Al-Fu'ah-Kafriya
* Nasib
* 2nd Yarmouk camp
* 1st Northwestern Syria
* 3rd Qalamoun
* 1st Palmyra
* Western al-Hasakah offensive
* 1st Al-Hasakah city
* Tell Abyad
* Daraa/As-Suwayda
* 2nd Quneitra
* 2nd Sarrin
* 5th Daraa
* 2nd Al-Hasakah city
* 2nd Kobanî
* 4th Aleppo offensive
* 2nd Zabadani
* 2nd Palmyra
* Al-Ghab
* 1st al-Qaryatayn
* Douma market
* 7th Rif Dimashq
* Kuweires offensive

* v
* t
* e

Russian intervention (Sept. 2015 – March 2016)

* Russian intervention
* 3rd Quneitra
* 2nd Northwestern Syria
* 3rd Latakia offensive
* Su-24 shootdown
* 5th Aleppo offensive
* al-Hawl
* Homs offensive
* 6th Aleppo offensive
* 4th Hama offensive
* Tell Tamer
* Tishrin Dam
* 2nd Al-Shaykh Maskin
* al-Qamishli bombings
* Orontes River
* 3rd Deir ez-Zor offensive
* 1st Sayyidah Zaynab
* 7th Aleppo offensive
* 1st Ithriyah-Raqqa
* Al-Shaddadi
* Homs bombings
* 2nd Sayyidah Zaynab
* Khanasir
* 2nd Tel Abyad
* Al-Tanf
* 2nd Al-Qaryatayn
* 3rd Palmyra
* 2nd Maarat al-Nu'man

* v
* t
* e

Aleppo escalation and Euphrates Shield (March 2016 – February 2017)

* 8th Aleppo offensive
* 6th Daraa
* 9th–11th Aleppo offensives
* Al-Dumayr
* 1st East Ghouta inter-rebel conflict
* 1st Qamishli
* Aleppo bombings
* 8th Rif Dimashq
* 3rd Shaer gas field
* Northern Raqqa
* Jableh & Tartus
* Manbij
* Tokhar
* 2nd Ithriyah-Raqqa
* 9th Rif Dimashq
* 12th–14th Aleppo offensives
* 12th
* 13th
* 14th
* 4th Latakia offensive
* 1st Abu Kamal
* 3rd Qamishli
* Atmeh
* al-Rai
* 3rd Al-Hasakah City
* Operation Euphrates Shield
* Northern al-Bab
* Dabiq
* al-Bab
* 5th Hama offensive
* 1st Western al-Bab
* 1st Eastern Qalamoun
* September bombings
* 4th Quneitra
* Deir ez-Zor airstrike
* Aleppo aid convoy attack
* 15th Aleppo offensive
* Khan al-Shih
* 1st Idlib inter-rebel conflict
* 2nd Western al-Bab
* 16th Aleppo offensive
* 2nd Raqqa campaign
* 17th Aleppo offensive
* 4th Palmyra
* Wadi Barada
* 1st Syrian Desert
* Azaz bombings
* 5th Palmyra
* 4th Deir ez-Zor offensive
* 18th Aleppo offensive
* 2nd Idlib inter-rebel conflict
* 7th Daraa
* Qaboun
* 8th Daraa

* v
* t
* e

Collapse of the Islamic State in Syria (Feb. – Nov. 2017)

* Eastern Homs offensive
* al-Jina mosque
* 6th Hama offensive
* Tabqa
* Khan Shaykhun
* US Shayrat strike
* Aleppo bus bombing
* April 2017 Turkish airstrikes
* 2nd East Ghouta inter-rebel conflict
* 2nd Syrian Desert
* Maskanah
* East Hama
* 2nd Raqqa
* 9th Daraa
* Southern Raqqa
* Iranian Deir ez-Zor strike
* Ja'din
* Jobar
* 5th Quneitra
* Central Syria
* 3rd Idlib inter-rebel conflict
* 4th Qalamoun
* Deir ez-Zor (2017–2019)
* 2nd Eastern Syria
* Deir ez-Zor city
* Euphrates Crossing
* Mayadin
* 2nd Abu Kamal
* 7th Hama offensive

* v
* t
* e

Rebels in retreat and Operation Olive Branch
(Nov. 2017 – Sep. 2018)

* 3rd Northwestern Syria
* Eastern Syria insurgency
* Atarib
* Harasta
* Beit Jinn
* 3rd Syrian Desert
* 5th Deir ez-Zor offensive
* 1st Southern Damascus
* Olive Branch
* Afrin
* SDF insurgency
* Khasham
* Feb 2018 Israel–Syria incident
* 10th Rif Dimashq (Douma)
* 4th Idlib inter-rebel conflict
* 2nd Southern Damascus
* U.S.-led missile strikes
* Northern Homs
* 2nd Eastern Qalamoun
* 3rd Southern Damascus
* Deir ez-Zor SAA-SDF clashes
* House of Cards
* 1st As-Suwayda
* 2nd Southern Syria
* 2nd As-Suwayda
* 3rd As-Suwayda
* 2nd Qamishli

* v
* t
* e

Idlib demilitarization
(Sep. 2018 – April 2019)

* Idlib demilitarization
* 5th Idlib inter-rebel conflict
* Sep. 2018 missile strikes
* Iranian Eastern Euphrates strike
* Northern border clashes
* Daraa insurgency
* Manbij bombing
* Baghuz Fawqani
* U.S. airstrike

* v
* t
* e

First Idlib offensive, Operation Peace Spring, & Second Idlib offensive (April 2019 – March 2020)

* 4th Northwestern
* Tell Rifaat
* Raqqa & Azaz
* Hass
* 2nd Israeli missile strikes
* Peace Spring (2nd Ras al-Ayn)
* Kayla Mueller
* Northern bombings
* 3rd Israeli missile strikes
* Qah
* 5th Northwestern
* Balyun
* Spring Shield
* 2nd U.S. missile strikes
* 10th Daraa

* v
* t
* e

Idlib ceasefire (March 2020 – present)

* 6th Idlib inter-rebel conflict
* Ayn Issa
* Qamishli & Al-Hasakah
* 4th Israeli missile strikes
* 3rd Qamishli
* 11th Daraa
* 7th Idlib inter-rebel conflict
* 3rd Al-Hasakah city
* 1st Aleppo inter-rebel conflict
* Jabal al-Bishrī
* 2nd Aleppo inter-rebel conflict
* Claw-Sword
* Northwestern clashes
* 3rd U.S. missile strikes
* 2nd Northern clashes
* Deir ez-Zor (2023)
* 3rd Northern clashes
* Homs drone strike

* v
* t
* e

Syrian War spillover and international incidents

* Lebanon spillover
* Lebanese–Syrian border
* Sidon
* Iranian embassy bombing
* North Lebanon clashes

* * *

* Syrian–Turkish border incidents
* Turkish F4 shootdown
* Reyhanlı bombings
* Turkish occupation of northern Syria
* Kurdish riots

* * *

* Jordanian–Syrian border incidents

* * *

* Israeli–Syrian ceasefire line
* February 2018 incident
* May 2018 incident

* * *

* Iraqi–Syrian border incidents
* Akashat
* al-Shabah
* Western Nineveh
* Western Iraq

* * *

* Spillover in Iran
* 2017 Tehran attacks
* 2017 Deir ez-Zor missile strike

* * *

* Spillover in Turkey
* Russian Su-24 shootdown
* Andrei Karlov
* Balyun airstrikes
* Kafr Takharim airstrikes

* * *

* Iran–Saudi Arabia proxy conflict

* * *

* * *

* Spillover in Europe

* v
* t
* e

Foreign involvement in the Syrian civil war

Foreign intervention on behalf of Syrian Arab Republic

* Russian involvement
* 2015 military intervention
* Iranian intervention
* 2017 missile strike
* Iran–Israel conflict
* 2012 Hezbollah involvement

Foreign intervention in behalf of Syrian rebels

* Foreign rebel fighters
* Turkish involvement
* Turkey–Islamic State conflict
* Tomb of Suleyman Shah relocation
* Euphrates Shield
* 2017 airstrikes
* Idlib Governorate operation
* Afrin operation
* 2019 Turkish offensive into north-eastern Syria
* Israel's role

U.S.-led intervention against ISIL

* U.S.-led Intervention
* Timeline
* List of attacks
* 2014 rescue operation
* May 2015 raid
* 2017 missile strikes
* Qatari involvement
* Jordanian intervention
* Operation Martyr Muath
* Lebanon's role
* Saudi involvement
* April 2018 missile strikes
* Dutch involvement
* German intervention
* French intervention
* Australian intervention
* UK intervention

Sanctions against Syria are a series of economic sanctions and restrictions imposed by the European Union, the United States, Canada, Australia, Switzerland, mainly as a result of the repression of civilians in the Syrian civil war from 2011 onwards. The US sanctions against Syria are the most severe, as they affect third-parties as well, and amount to an embargo.[1] U.S. secondary sanctions were limited until 2020 when the Caesar Act entered into force.[2] The intent is to prevent the Syrian government from employing violence against its citizens and to motivate political reforms that could solve the root causes of the conflict.[3]

According to statista.com, Syria is the world's third most sanctioned country in the world as of March 2022.[4]

A number of humanitarian aid exemptions have been embedded within the sanctions mechanisms to allow approved humanitarian aid to civilians living in Syria; nonetheless, many humanitarian aid efforts towards Syria have been blocked due to the effects of sanctions.[5][6][7]

There were increasing calls for sanctions against Syria to be lifted after the 2023 Turkey–Syria earthquakes due to its impact on humanitarian aid. The U.S later temporarily lifted some sanctions which allowed many charity organizations to send money to Syria.

## Sanctions timeline[edit]

In 1979, the United States put Syria on the list of State Sponsors of Terrorism over Syria's military occupation of Lebanon and state-sponsored support to Hezbollah, and other terrorist groups.[8]

In November 1986, the European Community (EC) imposed a package of sanctions that included a ban on the sale of new arms to Syria, a ban on high-level visits, review of embassy and consular staff, and strict security measures with regard to Syrian Arab Airlines. These measures were lifted in 1994.[9]

Between March and August 2004, the United States issued new sanctions against the Syrian government.[10] These new sanctions are a follow-up to the policy of combating the Axis of evil conducted by the Bush administration, which "condemns the alleged possession of weapons of mass destruction by the Syrian regime, condemns its grip on Lebanon and its willingness to destabilize Iraq, as well as its support for terrorist organizations such as Hezbollah and Hamas."[11][12]

The first sanctions applied on the country after the outbreak of the crisis was on 29 April 2011, after an executive order was issued by President Barack Obama to block property of those involved in the violations.[13] Canada imposed its first sanctions on 25 May 2011 in the form of a travel ban, asset freeze, ban on the export of certain goods and technology that may be used by the armed forces, and suspension of all bilateral agreements and initiatives.[14]

In May 2011, the European Union adopted sanctions against Syria, in particular by prohibiting the trade in goods that could be used for the repression of the civilian population.

### Sanctions following the civil war[edit]

In August 2011, the United States put in place an embargo on the oil sector,[15] freezing the financial assets of a number of personalities, as well as those of the Syrian state itself. In addition, the United States prohibits the export of goods and services originating in the territory of the United States or from United States companies or persons to Syria. This prohibition concerns any product of which at least 10% of the value comes from the United States or one of its nationals.[16] This measure has a wide impact on the Syrian population and on the price of commodities and medical products.

In September 2011, the European Union, in turn, adopted an embargo against the Syrian oil sector.[17][better source needed]

Australia announced a set of sanctions against Syria in 2011, in response to Assad government's violence against civilians. Sanctions ban Australians from all transactions related to weaponry, oil & natural gas, precious metals, petro-chemicals, toxic substances, banking partnerships, etc. with firms operating in Syria. They also prohibit dealings with regime-affiliated individuals, organizations and designated militant groups; which are involved in war-crimes and human rights violations.[18]

In November 2011, the Arab League announced in turn the freezing of Syrian government's financial assets, the end of financial exchanges with the Central Bank of Syria, the cessation of airlines between the countries of the Arab League and Syria, the ban on the stay of several Syrian figures and the cessation of investments in Syria by the Arab League states.[19][20] Lebanon and Yemen have opposed these sanctions.[21] In the same month, Turkey also announced the freezing of the Syrian state's financial assets.[22]

Other sanctions measures were put in place by the European Union in February 2012 concerning the energy sector, the supply of arms and the financial sector of Syria,[23][better source needed] as well as the mining sector. US presidential orders 13606 and 13608 issued in April and May 2012, respectively, issued additional sanctions against foreign individuals and firms trying to evade the US sanctions.[16] In June 2012, several non-EU countries like Georgia, Croatia, Macedonia, Montenegro, Iceland, Serbia, Albania, Liechtenstein, Norway and Moldova also joined the European Union's sanctions against Syria.[24]

In addition, in 2012, 120 Syrian officials or institutions had their financial assets frozen by the European Union and cannot travel to the European Union. This includes Bashar al-Assad, the Central Bank of Syria and several ministers. In June 2012, the European Union banned the trade in luxury goods with Syria, as well as a number of commercial products.[25] At the same time, the European Union strengthened its measures of restrictions on Syria in the fields of armaments, law enforcement and telecommunications control sectors.[26]

However, several EU member states have received sanctioned Syrian ministers in their lands, under the guise of attending UN and intergovernmental conferences since 2018.[27]

In March 2017, a UN Security Council draft resolution aimed to establish sanctions against Syria following the use of chemical weapons in its territory. However, Russia and China vetoed it. It is the 7th draft resolution for sanctions that have been rejected as a result of the exercise of vetoes. The resolution envisaged prohibiting the trade in helicopter parts and setting up the freezing of financial assets of some military figures from the Syrian government.[28]

In April 2017, the United States imposed financial freeze and travel ban to financial services against 270 government employees of the Syrian government following the Khan Sheikhoun attack.[29]

In March 2021, the EU declared that sanctions would remain in place until a political transformation in Syria commences.[30][better source needed] On 31 May 2022, the EU extended its sanctions against the Syrian government for a further year.[31] Following Assad's backing of Russian invasion of Ukraine and recognition of the seperatist republics of Donetsk and Luhansk, Ukraine dissolved all diplomatic relations with Syria and pledged to expand further sanctions against Syria in June 2022.[32][33]

#### After the 2023 Turkey–Syria earthquake[edit]

See also: Humanitarian response to the 2023 Turkey–Syria earthquake

On 7 February 2023, in the wake of the Turkey–Syria earthquakes, the Syrian Arab Red Crescent urged Western countries to lift sanctions. According to the Century Foundation's Aaron Lund, NGOs want some sanctions lifted because they "hurt civilians and humanitarian efforts".[34]

On 9 February 2023, the US Treasury Department announced it would temporarily lift some sanctions, covering “all transactions related to earthquake relief”, for 180 days. Previously, the US said the sanctions already contained robust exemptions for humanitarian assistance, and they "will not stand in the way" of saving lives.[35][36][37]

On 23 February 2023, the European Union also announced it would ease some sanctions for six months in order to speed up the relief effort for the Syrian nation. Later a number of neighboring Arab states also signaled increased cooperation with Syria after they contributed to the relief effort.[38][39]

During the 2023 Munich security conference, Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud remarked that some dialogue would be necessary with Damascus, at least to address humanitarian issues, including a return of refugees, especially after the 2023 earthquake, and that "not just among the GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) but in the Arab world there is a consensus growing that the status quo (to isolate Syria) is not workable”.[40] At the same conference, Kuwaiti foreign minister Salem Abdullah Al-Jaber Al-Sabah told Reuters that his country was opposed to normalization with Bashar al-Assad and stated that Kuwait provided financial assistance to earthquake victims through international organisations and Turkey.[41][42]

Following a visit to Syria by Jordan's foreign minister Ayman Safadi on 15 February 2023, members of the Jordanian government also expressed hope that Syria's isolation would end and sanctions could be lifted.[43] A day earlier, China' envoy to the United Nations also called for unilateral sanctions to be lifted "to give children hit by war and quakes hopes for survival".[44]

Qatar has been firmly opposed to normalisation of Bashar al-Assad due to regime's repression and has called for dialogue to end the crisis. Spokesman of Qatari Foreign Ministry stated on 28 February 2023 that they will not normalise relations with Syria until there is a "real political solution" in the country.[45]

On 18 March 2023, National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine put into effect a range of sanctions targeting 141 firms and 300 individuals linked to Syria, including those affiliated with Russian weapons manufacturers and Iranian dronemakers. This was days after Assad's visit to Moscow, wherein he recognized Russian annexation of four Ukrainian Oblasts and portrayed Russia's war as a fight against "old and new Nazis". Bashar al-Assad, Prime Minister Hussein Arnous and Foreign Minister Faisal Mikdad were amongst the individuals who were sanctioned.[a] Sanctions also involved freezing of all Syrian state properties in Ukraine, curtailment of monetary transactions, termination of economic commitments and recision of all state awards.[51]

In late March 2023, Turkey also had taken the path of easing economic sanctions against Syria, as Erdogan is seeking a "bilateral normalization effort" with his Syrian counterpart Bashar Al-Assad, according to Le Monde. Earlier, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu met in Ankara to seek a solution to the separatist-controlled north of Syria, an issue long at heart for the Turkish republic.[53]

#### Readmission of Syria to the Arab League[edit]

See also: Foreign relations of Syria

In early April 2023, Saudi Arabia had invited Syria's Assad to the Arab leaders summit. Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan will travel to Damascus to discuss further steps to readmit Syria to the Arab League and reduce economic sanctions. The summit is scheduled for May 19, 2023.[54] At the same time, Egypt was also in advanced talks with Bashar al-Assad when Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry met his Syrian counterpart in Cairo.[55]

On 7 May 2023, Syria was readmitted to the Arab league after a vote in Cairo before the scheduled meeting in Saudi Arabia later that month. Earlier, Kuwait and Qatar had opposed al-Assad’s presence at the Arab League summit. The regional normalisation effort had caught the U.S. and its European allies by surprise, as they were opposing an “Arab-led political path” in solving the crisis. According to the statement, al-Assad would be allowed to the meeting on 19 May 2023, if "he wishes to do so". Despite a critical stance by Jordan towards readmission of Syria to the alliance, the new political process was dubbed the “Jordanian Initiative”. Nevertheless, Syria remains under western sanctions after millions of Syrians had been displaced or sought refuge in Jordan and European countries during the civil war. The changes to the relations between Syria and other Arab States would allow many of them to return to their homeland, according to the announcements made earlier by Jordanian and Saudi officials.[56][57]

## Sanctioned individuals[edit]

This is a partial list of Syrian officials who have been subjected to sanctions, some of them prior to 2011. President Assad was sanctioned for the first time on 18 May 2011.[58]

* Bashar al-Assad (1965–)
* Asma al-Assad (1975-)
* Farouk al-Sharaa (1938–)
* Mohammad al-Shaar (1950–)
* Ali Habib Mahmud (1939–2020)
* Faisal Mekdad (1954-)
* Abdel-Fatah Qudsiyeh (1953–)
* Maher al-Assad (1967–)
* Jamil Hassan (1952–)
* Walid Muallem (1941–2020)
* Ali Abdul Karim (1953–)
* Dawoud Rajiha (1947–2012)
* Rustum Ghazaleh (1953–2015)
* Assef Shawkat (1950–2012)
* Mohammed Nasif Kheirbek (1937–2015)
* Ali Mamlouk (1946–)

## Impacts on civilians[edit]

Sanctions have led to the shortage of medical equipment and medicine in Syria as its illegal for many international pharmaceutical companies to sell medicine to Syria due to sanctions, regardless of sanction exemption measures imposed by the United States and European Union towards medicine due to contradicting sanctions, medicines containing sanctioned chemicals, complex bureaucracy involved in getting approved for a sanction exemption license etc. Due to Syria’s reliance on imports for anti-cancer medicine, its cancer treatment hospital capabilities have been heavily hampered.[6] An Italian hospital director in Damascus told Middle East Eye in 2017 that its hospital had been partially financed by donations until sanctions prevented financial transactions to Syrian banks.[7][better source needed]

Although sanctions do not prevent transfer of funds to registered NGOs working in Syria, sanctions have led to many fund-raising and money transfer companies (such as PayPal, Venmo and GoFundMe) to block or suspend attempts by charities and individuals seeking to send money to both government- and opposition-controlled areas due to sanctions against banks and payment processors.[59][60][61][62] The licensing requirements and complex bureaucracy of sanctions paperwork required for nonprofit organizations seeking to send humanitarian aid to Syria, combined with increasing audits for NGOs working in areas controlled by Islamists, had cost charity organizations millions of dollars by 2016. The bank accounts of many charities, including those working in non-government areas, were blocked or frozen due to banks' over-compliance with sanctions.[63][64][7]

Due to U.S sanctions banning the export, sale or supply of goods, software, technology and services to Syria, people in Syria are barred from accessing Western online platforms used for education, online shopping, work or leisure, such as Google, Netflix, Amazon (company), Zoom (software), Apple Inc. etc.[65]

Financial transaction sanctions made it illegal for video game companies to allow people in Syria to access their platforms. Sanctions in 2019 on services towards Syria and Iran made it illegal for free-to-play video game companies to let people in Syria access their platform, regardless of removing financial transactions within their games for people in Syria in trying to avoid previous sanctions, which forced video game companies to not allow people on their platforms in Iran and Syria.[66][67]

After the 2023 earthquakes, charity fundraising attempts towards supporting family members in government and opposition regions of Syria on the GoFundMe platform were blocked due to sanctions while the platform continued to only allow transfers to pre-approved registered NGOs and suspended other accounts attempting to send money to Syria for fear of non-compliance with U.S sanctions relating to banks and payment processors. After the U.S temporarily lifted certain sanctions, GoFundMe notified suspended charity accounts that they could send donations to Syria on their platform.[59][36]

## Positions[edit]

See also: Foreign relations of Syria

The 2004 sanctions were supported by Israel’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Silvan Shalom in a public statement.[12]

More recently, and especially in the 2020s with the normalisation of Syria's international relations, a number of countries, such as China, Iran, Russia, the United Arab Emirates and humanitarian organizations have called for the sanctions to be lifted.[68][69][70]

Hezbollah has criticized sanctions against Syria and accused the U.S of trying to starve Syria. On multiple occasions Hezbollah ignored sanctions and sent both weapons and humanitarian aid to Syria, leading to many of its weapon convoys being bombed by Israel.[71][72][73][74][75][76]

Chinese state media reported that Syria's Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad said the Syrian nation has been deprived of $107 billion in oil and gas earnings since 2011 due to sanctions and the U.S exporting Syrian crude oil from areas under U.S and U.S ally control.[77][78][unreliable source?]

Alena Douhan, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on unilateral coercive measures, demanded that the US and the EU abolish their unilateral sanctions, alleging that they violate international law.[79][80]

Critics argue that Bashar al-Assad had weaponized humanitarian relief efforts as a tool to punish people in opposition-held territories, throughout the course of the civil war.[81] Muslim-American civic organization Emgage said that sanctions did not bear impact on humanitarian aid, instead criticizing Russian and Iranian governments for obscuring "Assad’s role in destroying the country" and economic mismanagement.[82]

## See also[edit]

* United States sanctions
* Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act
* Sanctions against Iraq
* Sanctions against Iran

## Notes[edit]

1. ^ [46][47][48][49][50][51][52]

## References[edit]

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2. ^ "U.S. And European Sanctions on Syria".
3. ^ "The Dilemmas in the Debate on Syria Sanctions | GCSP". www.gcsp.ch.
4. ^ Zandt, Florian (9 March 2022). "The World's Most-Sanctioned Countries". Statista.
5. ^ Mathews, Sean (16 February 2023). "Syria earthquake: 'Inflection point' for normalisation with Bashar al-Assad". Middle East Eye. Archived from the original on 16 February 2023. "Humanitarian aid is technically exempt from western sanctions and 91 percent of UN aid going to government-held Syria comes from the world's top four sanctioning entities: the EU, US, UK, and Canada."
6. ^ a b Nehme, Dahlia (15 March 2017). "Syria sanctions indirectly hit children's cancer treatment". Reuters - via www.reuters.com.
7. ^ a b c "Sanctions don't stop Assad, but hurt us all, say Syrian medics and businesspeople". Middle East Eye.
8. ^ "State Sponsor: Syria". Council on Foreign Relations.
9. ^ "Arms embargoes | SIPRI". www.sipri.org.
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11. ^ Executive Order 13338—Blocking Property of Certain Persons and Prohibiting the Export of Certain Goods to Syria govinfo.gov 17 May 2004
12. ^ a b Whitaker, Brian (17 May 2004). "Suspicious sanctions". The Guardian.
13. ^ "Executive order. Syria" (PDF). steamshipmutual.com. Retrieved 27 April 2023.
14. ^ "Canada imposes sanctions on Syrian leaders". BBC News. 24 May 2011.
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20. ^ "What the Arab League's Sanctions on Syria Mean". The Atlantic. 27 November 2011.
21. ^ "Lebanon rejects Arab sanctions on Syria: FM - Region - World".
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27. ^ "Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor – European sanctions and backdoor policies for war criminals in Syria". Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor. Retrieved 16 February 2022.
28. ^ York, Reuters in New (1 March 2017). "Russia and China veto UN resolution to impose sanctions on Syria". the Guardian. `{{cite web}}`: `|first=` has generic name (help)
29. ^ Davis, Julie Hirschfeld (24 April 2017). "U.S. Imposes Sanctions on Syrian Government Workers After Sarin Attack". The New York Times.
30. ^ "EU: Sanctions won't be lifted from Syria before political transition". Middle East Monitor. 11 March 2021.
31. ^ "EU Extends Restrictive Measures Against Syrian Government". North Press (Kurdish agency) via Syrian Observer. June 2022.
32. ^ "Ukraine's Zelenskyy cuts ties with Syria after it recognized separatist republics". Al Arabiya. 30 June 2022. Archived from the original on 30 June 2022.
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37. ^ "Bashar al-Assad does not want to let a calamity go to waste". The Economist. 16 February 2023. Archived from the original on 17 February 2023.
38. ^ "EU eases Syria sanctions to speed up quake aid" al-monitor. Accessed 27 Feb 2023.
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41. ^ "Arab states need new Syria approach, Saudi minister says". Reuters. 19 February 2023. Archived from the original on 22 February 2023.
42. ^ Irish, John (18 February 2023). "Kuwait foreign minister sees progress on maritime border with Iraq". Reuters. Archived from the original on 18 February 2023.
43. ^ "Jordan’s foreign minister visits Syria in bid for relief diplomacy" jpost. Accessed 18 Feb 2023.
44. ^ "At UN, China calls for Syria sanctions to be lifted to give children hit by war and quakes ‘hope of survival’" scmp. Accessed 18 Feb 2023.
45. ^ "Qatar's emir criticises delay in aid to earthquake victims in Syria". The New Arab. 6 March 2023. Archived from the original on 6 March 2023.
46. ^ "Zelenskiy Announces Sanctions On Hundreds Of Individuals, Including Syrian President, Iranian Drone Makers". rferl.org. 19 March 2023. Archived from the original on 19 March 2023.
47. ^ "Zelensky imposes sanctions against Syrian dictator Bashar Al-Assad, other officials". The Kyiv Independent. 18 March 2023. Archived from the original on 18 March 2023.
48. ^ "Assad welcomes new Russian bases in Syria after Putin meeting". Al Jazeera. 16 March 2023. Archived from the original on 16 March 2023.
49. ^ "Decree of the President of Ukraine No. 163/2023". Office of the President of Ukraine. 18 March 2023. Archived from the original on 19 March 2023.
50. ^ "Zelenskyy introduces sanctions against Syria's Assad". Anadolu Agency. 18 March 2023. Archived from the original on 18 March 2023.
51. ^ a b "Ukraine's Zelensky imposes sanctions on Syria's Assad, other officials". The New Arab. 19 March 2023. Archived from the original on 20 March 2023.
52. ^ "Ukraine sanctions Syrian dictator Assad, hundreds of other individuals and entities". TVP World. 18 March 2023. Archived from the original on 19 March 2023.
53. ^ "Washington D.C. grows increasingly frustrated with its Turkish ally" Le Monde. Accessed 3 April 2023.
54. ^ "Saudi Arabia to invite Syria's Assad to Arab leaders summit, ending regional isolation" Reuters Middle East. Accessed 3 April 2023.
55. ^ "Egypt, Syria in Advanced Talks to Restore Diplomatic Relations" WSJ News Exclusive-MIDDLE EAST. April 2, 2023. Accessed 13 April 2023.
56. ^ "Arab foreign ministers agree on Syria’s return to Arab League Arab News. 7 May 2023, accessed 7 May 2023.
57. ^ Saleh H & England A (7 May 2023)"Arab League to readmit Syria after decade-long hiatus" Financial Times. Accessed 7 May 2023.
58. ^ "Syria Sanctions".
59. ^ a b Lapowsky, Issie (2 February 2023). "Syrians need help. Donors want to give. And GoFundMe is caught in the middle". FastCompany.
60. ^ Notopoulos, Katie (22 February 2016). "Why Venmo And PayPal Are Blocking Donations To Syrian Refugees". BuzzFeed News. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
61. ^ Sun, Mengqi (10 February 2023). "U.S. Exempts Earthquake Aid to Syria From Sanctions". WSJ. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
62. ^ Samuel Rubenfeld (23 February 2016). "Corruption Currents: Venmo, PayPal Cite Compliance in Blocking Donations to Syrian Refugees". WSJ. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
63. ^ Esslemont, Tom (23 February 2016). "EXCLUSIVE-Syrians suffer as anti-terror laws squeeze charities - survey". Reuters. "Western anti-terror laws are forcing aid agencies in Syria to avoid communities controlled by extremist groups, making it harder to deliver vital supplies... A survey of 21 international and national non-governmental organisations (NGOs) found government donors and banks were also demanding more in-depth audits in the two years since jihadi group Islamic State (ISIS) took root, sending costs spiralling."
64. ^ Daher, Joseph. "Invisible Sanctions: How over-compliance limits humanitarian work on Syria" (PDF). Impact-CSRD. "Alongside this situation, the risk of being cut off from the international financial system as a result of the US' extraterritorial sanctions is a risk that very few banks want to take. This leads to a situation in which banks generally over comply with sanctions, by demanding nearly systematically much more conditions to be filled by clients (whether individuals or organisations) in order to be on the safe side and prevent any risks for the institution as argued by an employee of a compliance service in a European private bank. This latter added that "any mention of Syria directly raises the red flag"."
65. ^ "In pandemic year, Syrians blocked from Zoom, Netflix". France 24. 19 March 2021. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
66. ^ Lyons, Ron (24 June 2019). "League of Legends Blocked in Iran, Syria". Slate.
67. ^ Blake, Vikki (26 June 2019). "Riot blocks League of Legends players in Iran and Syria following US sanctions". MCVDevelop.
68. ^ "Iran Demands Lifting of Unilateral Sanctions Against Syria: Envoy". 22 July 2022.
69. ^ "Chinese envoy urges full lift of unilateral sanctions on Syria now". 22 July 2022.
70. ^ "US sanctions complicate Syria's return to Arab League, UAE minister says". 9 March 2021.
71. ^ "Lebanon's Hezbollah sends aid to Syria's quake-hit Latakia". France24. 12 February 2023.
72. ^ "Hezbollah leader accuses US of trying to 'starve' Syria, Lebanon". France24. 16 June 2020.
73. ^ Tawil, Fadi (16 September 2021). "Hezbollah brings Iran fuel to Lebanon despite US sanctions". AP NEWS.
74. ^ Toi, Staff (30 November 2016). "Report: Israel hits Syrian military, Hezbollah weapons convoy". The Times of Israel.
75. ^ Emanuel, Fabian (9 February 2023). "Report: Israel warns Iran against sending arms to Syria under guise of quake aid". The Times of Israel.
76. ^ "Hezbollah: Iranian tanker bringing fuel to Lebanon in Syria". AP News. 13 September 2021.
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78. ^ "Syrian Economic Outlook Dims as Internal Conflict, Resource Theft and Sanctions Persist". International Banker. 24 November 2022.
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82. ^ Ioanes, Ellen (12 February 2023). "Why the earthquake caused a "perfect storm" of a crisis in Syria". Vox. Archived from the original on 14 February 2023.

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