The Syrian American Council applauds Congress for passing strong bipartisan sanctions legislation on Russia and Iran, the two largest backers of the brutal Assad regime, with a veto-proof majority. This legislation would sanction Russian officials and entities for supporting the Assad regime; place terrorism sanctions on the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), which are on the ground in Syria; and subject the lifting of existing sanctions on Russia to Congressional review.

The passage of these sanctions would not have been possible without a strong grassroots campaign by the Syrian American community, which called and emailed their representatives for weeks along with its allies in the Ukrainian American, Baltic American, Bosnian American, Iranian American, and other communities.

“Russia and Iran support the daily assault on Syrian civilians,” said Mirna Barq, President of the Syrian American Council. “We urge President Trump to sign this important piece of legislation, and go even further in designating the IRGC as a terrorist organization and kicking Russia out of the international SWIFT code system” she added.

According to the Syrian Network for Human Rights, Russia has killed more Syrian civilians than ISIS. Iranian-backed militias are also extending their reach in Syria and attempting to create a land bridge from Tehran to Lebanon, threatening U.S. allies and Syrian civilians.

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