Fact Check: The U.S. Expanded Sanctions on Syria in 2004 and 2011
What We Know
The United States has imposed sanctions on Syria for several decades, primarily due to its designation as a State Sponsor of Terrorism since December 1979. Significant expansions of these sanctions occurred in 2004 and 2011.
In May 2004, the U.S. issued Executive Order 13338, which implemented the Syria Accountability and Lebanese Sovereignty Restoration Act of 2003. This order imposed additional economic measures under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), targeting Syria's involvement in terrorism and its support for groups like Hezbollah.
In 2011, following the onset of civil unrest in Syria, the U.S. government intensified its sanctions. The first of these was Executive Order 13572, issued in April 2011, which blocked the property of Syrian officials involved in human rights abuses. This was followed by Executive Order 13573 in May 2011, which expanded the sanctions to include additional Syrian officials, including President Bashar al-Assad. Later, in August 2011, Executive Order 13582 was enacted, which further restricted U.S. investments in Syria and prohibited the importation of Syrian petroleum products.
Analysis
The evidence supporting the claim that the U.S. expanded sanctions on Syria in both 2004 and 2011 is robust and well-documented. The U.S. Department of State provides a clear timeline and rationale for these sanctions, emphasizing their purpose of responding to Syria's actions in the region and its treatment of its citizens.
The credibility of the sources is high, particularly the information from the U.S. Department of State and the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), which are official government entities responsible for implementing and enforcing these sanctions. These sources are authoritative and provide detailed descriptions of the legal frameworks and executive orders involved.
Contradictory claims regarding the effectiveness or implications of these sanctions may exist, but they do not negate the factual basis of the sanctions' expansion in the specified years. For instance, while some argue that sanctions have not effectively changed the Assad regime's behavior, this does not impact the veracity of the claim that sanctions were indeed expanded during those years.
Conclusion
Verdict: True
The claim that the U.S. expanded sanctions on Syria in 2004 and 2011 is accurate. The evidence from credible sources confirms that significant sanctions were imposed during these years, with specific executive orders detailing the scope and intent of these measures.