Press release
Syrian Opposition Coalition
Department of Media and Communications
December 8, 2021
The Syrian Opposition Coalition (SOC) expresses its support for the new round of US sanctions on officials of the Assad and Iranian regimes who are involved in war crimes and crimes against humanity.
These sanctions, along with the previous US, European and British sanctions, represent a message to whoever is still considering rehabilitating the Assad regime or re-engaging with it.
The SOC stresses the need for these sanctions to deliver tangible results. We are well aware that the sanctions will have a direct, certain impact on those involved in crimes. However, we do not want these sanctions to be a last measure or a means to cover up the international inaction towards the crimes of the Assad regime and its allies and their subversive policies in Syria, the region and beyond.
The measures being taken today to confront the repression and massive violations of human rights have all fallen short of addressing the outrageous reality and the heinous crimes that have been taking place in Syria for more than ten years.
The peoples of the world expect more efforts from the world’s major actors, chief among them is the United States, to reactivate the role of the United Nations in resolving international crises and conflicts as well as preventing them from further conflagration.
It is imperative that the international community establish an international mechanism for enforcing UN resolutions on Syria, including UN Resolution 2254, and holding war criminals accountable.
We stress the importance of the US role in supporting the struggle of the Syrian people and stepping up its efforts to put an end to the Assad regime and the Russian occupation’s obstruction of the political process.