The US Office for Foreign Asset Control (OFAC) has announced a new round of sanctions on 8 Syrian prisons and 5 security personnel, as well as on the “Ahrar El Sharqiya” group, supported by Turkey and working in the north of Syria, for atrocities committed against civilians. At the same time, sanctions were imposed on an individual supporting “Al Qaeda” while living in Turkey, as well as another living in Syria supporting “Hayet Tahrir El Sham”.

These sanctions come as the Biden administration is facing criticism for its lack of a strategy towards Syria, as it has not yet appointed a special envoy to Syria as it has for Iran and Yemen. OFAC recently relieved the Syrian regime of certain sanctions to help Syria combat the spread of COVID-19, including on two companies close to the regime. This comes in comparison to the Trump administration which enforced sanctions in June 2020 against 113 entities and individuals. 

Varying Objectives

The Biden administration appears to be sending a number of messages by the imposition of these sanctions, including: 

1. A Warning to Iran: The US appears to be sending a direct message to Iran, that despite indirect negotiations through the G5+1 group in Vienna, it will not overlook Syrian actions undertaken with the help of Iran through its militias. The Biden administration appears to have reached the conclusion that Iran may have misunderstood the lifting of some sanctions, encouraging it to escalate with regard to the nuclear program, and the actions of its allies in the region. Some members of congress have in fact criticized the administration in this respect.
   

2. Emphasizing differences with Trump: The Biden administration is keen to demonstrate it takes a different approach than the Trump administration, whose foreign policy  it deems was damaging to US interests and national security.
   
3. Containing Turkey:  Even though sanctions were directed at Syria and Iran, Turkey was made uncomfortable by US increasing attention to human rights abuses, which could be a potential sticking point in bilateral relations. This is in line with the view that the Biden administration is not pleased with Turkey’s treatment of the political opposition and the Kurds, or the abuses being committed by extremist groups supported by Turkey against the Kurds in Syria. 

It is noteworthy that the sanctions also extended to “Ahrar El Sharqiya” – a group supported by Turkey in the north of Syria. This group is accused of committing atrocities against Syrian Kurds, including, killings, kidnappings, torture, and theft of property. The US Treasury Department’s statement condemned the horrific acts that forced residents in the north of Syria to flee, and the fact that this organization  has also recruited former members of Islamic State into its ranks.

Enforcing these sanctions could be interpreted as a sign from the US administration that such sanctions could be in future directed against Turkey, in view of the current differences between the two sides, and the unwillingness of the Biden administration to turn a blind eye as Trump did.

4. A commitment to fighting terrorism: The US is keen to signal its continuing commitment to the fight against terrorism, although it is decreasing its military involvement in the region. These sanctions can be seen as a warning sign to these terrorist groups not to expand their operations.

The new US sanctions may represent a new US stance towards Syria, especially in the context of an emerging inclination to increase pressure on the Iranian regime, in order to make progress in the G5+1 negotiations. This pressure could extend to the oil sector, on which Iran relies heavily to prop up its allies in Syria and the region.