Sanctions on Syria have been imposed primarily due to the Syrian government's violent repression of civilians, human rights violations, use of chemical weapons, support for terrorism, and its role in destabilizing regional peace. These sanctions started mainly after the Syrian uprising turned into a civil war in 2011, aiming to stop regime violence and push for political reforms. The United States, European Union, and other Western countries targeted individuals, entities, and sectors connected to the Assad regime, including embargoes on oil imports and financial asset freezes. Secondary sanctions have also targeted third parties interacting with Syria. Despite their economic impact, these sanctions have had limited political effectiveness, as the regime has shown resilience and the opposition has been dysfunctional. Recent developments include some easing of sanctions following the fall of Assad's regime in late 2024, but sanctions had long aimed to prevent Syria’s government from continuing violence against its population and deter support for terrorism.
