ALEPPO, Syria — A long-awaited US law designed to punish Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, who stands accused of crimes against humanity and other atrocities, has the potential to effect change, but only if the United States follows through decisively, Assad's opponents say.
On Dec. 20, US President Donald Trump signed the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act, sparking wide controversy in Syrian opposition circles in Idlib and Aleppo provinces as many wonder what impact, if any, the law might have on the conduct of the Syrian government's security and military structure. Observers also are pondering whether this act could weaken and ultimately topple the government, thus fulfilling the calls of the opposition.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo called the act "an important step to promote accountability for the [Assad regime], which has committed large-scale atrocities in Syria.”
The new law calls for sanctions on any party — from companies to individuals to countries like Russia and Iran — that offer the Syrian government military, financial, technical or reconstruction support. The law explores the best ways to offer aid to Syrians and support entities that collect evidence for investigations into war crimes and crimes against humanity since the civil war there began in March 2011.
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