In April 2019, as the Russian-backed Assad regime began a new offensive on Syria’s Idlib province, the Syrian American Council began vehemently planning for a comprehensive media campaign to bring awareness to the largest humanitarian crisis since WWII, while attempting to preemptively minimize the devastation to civilians.

Caesar Act Facts

On June 17, 2020, the Treasury Department designated nine entities and individuals with financial connections to the Assad regime for sanctions under the auspices of the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act. The State Department and Treasury also took this opportunity to announce targeted sanctions against an additional 30 entities, including Bashar al-Assad and many members of his inner circle, under the authority of existing executive orders. 

The act seeks to minimize the impact on Syrian civilians by applying highly targeted sanctions against the Assad regime and its backers, the Caesar Act will do the following:

• Put real pressure on the Syrian, Russian, and Iranian governments to agree to a political transition in line with U.N. Security Council Resolution 2254. 
• Send the message that there are consequences for the systematic atrocities committed against civilians by Assad’s backers, Russia and Iran, who are engaged in malign activities around the globe.
• Help to neutralize the threats emanating from the Assad regime through its creation of a safe haven for terrorist groups, its use of chemical weapons against civilians, and the political instability that it continues to foster both inside Syria and throughout the region.

Under the act, the Assad regime must meet a series of benchmarks before sanctions can be lifted, including:

• The suspension of airstrikes against civilians, hospitals, schools, and residential and community areas by both the regime and Russian forces.
• The release of political prisoners from regime prisons, and the inspection of detention centers by international human rights groups.
• The facilitation of the safe return of IDPs and refugees.
• Verifiable compliance with the Chemical Weapons Convention.
• Taking steps to provide meaningful accountability for perpetrators of war crimes in Syria. 

Since 2011, and even prior, Syrian Americans have been fully engaged with their fellow Syrians on the ground on multiple levels both individually and through their organizations. Economically, they contributed tens of millions of dollars in direct aid and development distributed all over Syria. Particularly over the past decade, Syrian Americans have organized themselves and have become a formidable voice in Washington DC. As a result, they were able to successfully push for clear humanitarian exceptions and avenues in order to focus the pressure of the Caesar act on the Syrian regime and alleviate as much of it as possible off of the Syrian people.

On July 26, 2020 the Syrian American Council and Students Organize for Syria held a film screening on "Syria's Disappeared: The Case Against Assad". The panelists discussed the Caesar Act as the first step towards accountability and justice for the Syrian people. 

Watch the discussion here.

Aid to Civilians in North Syria Must Continue, Despite Russian and Chinese Veto

Syrian American organizations call for cross-border aid to continue, going directly to humanitarian and civil society groups on the ground

WASHINGTON D.C., July 11, 2020 – Syrian American organizations express their concern at the July 7, 2020, United Nations Security Council (UNSC) vote on a draft resolution to reauthorize the cross-border humanitarian aid delivery mechanism in northern Syria that expired on July 10. The decision by Russia and China to exercise their veto to reject the proposal to reauthorize the Bab al-Salam and Bab-al Hawa crossings for 12 months will leave civilians without lifesaving support. 

The Syrian American Council Calls for Renewal of the Cross-border Resolution by United Nations Security Council

The Assad regime and its Russian backers continue to use denial of aid as a weapon of war against Syrian civilians

WASHINGTON D.C., July 7, 2020 – The Syrian American Council urges the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to renew Resolution 2504 (2165), which will expire on July 10, 2020, for 12 months. Further, the Syrian American Council calls on the UNSC to amend the resolution to include, in addition to Bab al-Hawa and Bab al-Salam border crossings, the Al Yaroubiyah and Al Ramtha border crossings. The Assad regime, backed by Russia, continue to weaponize aid, a war crime under the Rome statute, and a crime condemned by the UNSC in Resolution 2417. 

Syrian American Community Welcomes Implementation of Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act as First Step to Accountability and Justice in Syria

WASHINGTON D.C., June 18, 2020 – Yesterday, the U.S. Department of the Treasury began its implementation of the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act, designating nine entities and individuals with financial connections to the Assad regime for sanctions under the auspices of the Caesar Law. The U.S. Department of State and Department of the Treasury also took this opportunity to announce targeted sanctions against an additional 30 entities, including Bashar al-Assad and many members of his inner circle, under the authority of existing executive orders. 

Syrian American Council and Americans for a Free Syria Host Virtual Town Hall with Ambassador James Jeffrey and Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Joel Rayburn 

WASHINGTON D.C., June 12, 2020​ – On Sunday, June 7, the Syrian American Council and Americans for a Free Syria hosted a webinar for the Syrian American community with U.S. ​Special Representative for Syria Engagement and the Special Envoy for the ​Global Coalition to Defeat ISIL, Ambassador James Jeffrey and ​Deputy Assistant Secretary for Levant Affairs ​and U.S. Special Envoy for Syria, Joel Rayburn. The panel provided the community an opportunity to engage senior officials on U.S. policy in Syria.

Syrian American Council Stands with Black Community

WASHINGTON D.C., June 3, 2020 – The Syrian American Council stands in solidarity with the Black community. We share the outrage over the deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and Ahmaud Arbery, among countless other innocent men, women and children killed by law enforcement and vigilantes, and we join in the call for justice.

Daraa, Syria at Risk for Large Scale Attack by Regime Forces

The Assad regime and its backers gather in the countryside as the citizens of Daraa are once again rising up, continuing their fight for freedom and justice

WASHINGTON D.C., May 22, 2020 – The residents of Daraa, a city in southwestern Syria, have taken to the streets peacefully, once again standing up in demanding basic freedoms, and have been met with violent force from the Syrian regime and Iranian militias, who are poised for a full-scale attack. The members of the Syrian American Council call on the U.S. government and nations who support a free and democratic Syria to demand a stop to the lethal acts of violence by the Assad regime and its backers.

Deadly Terrorist Bombing in Afrin, Syria Highlights Local Corruption and Instability 

Syrian American Council calls for immediate reforms among opposition factions in northeast Syria  

WASHINGTON D.C., May 2, 2020 – On Tuesday, April 28, nearly 50 civilians were killed in a terrorist attack in the city of Afrin, Syria. A truck bomb targeted a market area full of families buying food to break their Ramadan fast. Nearly a dozen children were among the victims. 

Every attack against civilians in Syria is an intolerable crime, but this incident – coming at a moment of collective global crisis – stands out for its cruelty and callousness. The Syrian American Council strongly condemns those responsible for this horrific act of terrorism and expresses sympathy for the families impacted by this violence.