United States: "Caesar" law comes into force to put Damascus under maximum pressure

In central Damascus, April 22, 2020. REUTERS / Yamam Al Shaar / File Photo

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Peace or sanctions. Washington warns the Syrian regime. The "Caesar" law, passed by the American congress, comes into effect on Wednesday. Its objective is to put under maximum pressure Damascus. President Bashar al-Assad now has two options: a political resolution to the conflict or new economic sanctions when his country is already very weak.

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"Caesar" is the code name for a Syrian military photographer. In 2013, this whistleblower defected and took 55,000 photos with him. Classified photos documenting the horror in the regime's prisons.

To baptize this law "Caesar", "  it is a tribute to the one who wanted to do justice to the victims of the forces of Bashar al-Assad  ", had specified the American secretary of state Mike Pompeo.

In detail, this new law targets four sectors: hydrocarbons, military aeronautics, finance and construction. It targets companies as well as people who collaborate with the plan. No matter their nationality, Syrian or foreign.

The "Caesar" law comes when Syria is already strangled economically. In order to save the population, the American legislator provided exemptions concerning the humanitarian aid.

Washington can also suspend this law at any time. The White House actually offers a deal in Damascus: stop the bombing and agree to try those responsible for the Syrian war crime or otherwise face US sanctions.

The new American sanctions aim to "starve" Syria at war and neighboring Lebanon, accused the head of the Lebanese movement of Hezbollah, militarily engaged alongside Damascus, on Tuesday. "  The Caesar law (...) aims to starve Lebanon as it aims to starve Syria,  " lambasted the leader of the Shiite movement Hassan Nasrallah in an address broadcast on television. He said the law was "the United States' last weapon" against the power of Damascus.

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  • Bashar al-Assad
  • United States
  • Syria

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