The messages that Washington is sending to Moscow through sanctions on Syrian personalities are having an impact. Since the Caesar Act went into effect in June, Russia has come to realize that it should start thinking about a political path rather than celebrating military victories in Syria.
The US on Thursday blacklisted six senior Syrian government, financial and military officials as part of the Caesar Act to increase pressure on the regime. The measure aimed to send three “messages” by targeting figures who controlled the assets and networks of Rami Makhlouf and contributed to smuggling; political personalities who penetrated state institutions; and military figures who contributed to the presence of Iran and Hezbollah in Syria.
There are signs that the US is convinced in the “success” of action against Syrian officials because the latest sanctions included six personalities named by the Treasury and another list released by the State Department.
The first two lists of the Caesar Act include the names of dozens of people including the wife of the Syrian president and Hafez, his eldest son.
In its latest move, the State Department said in a statement that the sanctioned figures “should have no role in Syria’s future.”
But it looks like Moscow is the main target. Washington is betting that Moscow will be convinced that Bashar Assad’s strategy to only hinge on military victories will not be successful, will not end the conflict and will deepen the involvement of Iran and Hezbollah in Syria’s war.
The US believes that Russia “should not give Damascus a blank check.”
But Russian officials are divided on Syria’s war. Some hold onto military victories while others believe in mulling a political track because the conflict would only end through a political solution. This group continues to raise questions whether Russia is willing to be militarily involved in Syria’s war for another five years, ending up in a vicious cycle.
Washington is hinging on those who think that Russia’s policies in Syria are “no longer working.”
The US has not only relied on sanctions in its pressure campaign. It has resorted to directly and indirectly backing Israeli airstrikes on “Iranian sites” in Syria, and has politically and economically, in addition to “other means,” supported Turkey’s efforts to preserve a ceasefire in Idlib province, keep a military presence in northeastern Syria and “respond to all Russian provocations.”
What’s clear in the mind of Americans is that Damascus will remain isolated even after the US presidential elections in November because both Democrats and Republications have given their approval to the Caesar Act.
