U.S. Imposes Sanctions On Syrian President

The United States imposed personal sanctions on Syrian President Bashar Assad and six of his aides for human rights abuses.

The first round of sanctions imposed nearly a month ago targeted two of Assad’s relatives and the Syrian intelligence agency.

This second round of sanctions targets Assad personally, something the United States and European Union have tip-toed around, and should add pressure on the Syrian government to cease violent responses to protests. The move will also likely spark speculation over whether the United States will pursue Assad’s ouster. 

In a letter to House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) and to Vice President Biden, President Obama said he “found that the actions of the Government of Syria constitute an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security, foreign policy, and economy of the United States and declared a national emergency to deal with that threat.”

The sanctions freeze any of Assad’s property and assets that are held by or acquired by the United States. Additionally, the sanctions would target Vice President Farouq al-Shara, Prime Minister Adel Safar, Interior Minister Mohammad Ibrahim al-Shaar, Defense Minister Ali Habib and Syria’s military inteligence chief, Mohammed Dib Zaitoun.