Fact Check: "Sanctions remain only on Bashar Assad and his associates."
What We Know
The claim that "sanctions remain only on Bashar Assad and his associates" is misleading. According to a fact sheet from the White House, while President Trump signed an executive order terminating many sanctions on Syria, it explicitly maintains sanctions on Bashar al-Assad, his associates, and several other categories of individuals and entities. These include human rights abusers, drug traffickers, individuals linked to chemical weapons activities, ISIS affiliates, and Iranian proxies.
Furthermore, the Department of the Treasury issued a general license (GL 25) that allows for immediate sanctions relief for the new Syrian government, but it does not extend this relief to the former Assad regime or those associated with it. The license is intended to facilitate new investment and economic activity in Syria, but it is clear that sanctions are still in place for specific actors, including Assad and those involved in terrorism or human rights violations.
Analysis
The assertion that sanctions are limited only to Assad and his associates overlooks the broader context of the sanctions regime. The executive order and subsequent treasury actions indicate a nuanced approach to sanctions relief. While it is true that sanctions against Assad and his close associates remain, the sanctions also target a wider range of actors involved in various forms of misconduct.
The reliability of the sources used to support this claim is high, as they come from official government communications. The White House fact sheet and the Treasury Department's announcement are both primary sources that outline the current state of sanctions against Syria. However, the interpretation of these documents can vary, and the claim simplifies a complex situation.
Critically, the claim fails to acknowledge that the sanctions are not solely focused on Assad but are part of a broader strategy to hold accountable various actors involved in the ongoing conflict and humanitarian crisis in Syria. This broader scope is essential for understanding the implications of the sanctions and the U.S. government's objectives in the region.
Conclusion
The verdict is False. The claim that "sanctions remain only on Bashar Assad and his associates" misrepresents the current sanctions landscape. While sanctions do remain on Assad and his close associates, they also extend to a variety of other individuals and entities involved in human rights abuses and terrorism. Therefore, the assertion fails to capture the full scope of the sanctions imposed by the U.S. government.
