Russia can be subject to US sanctions due to support for Syrian government
Members of the US House of Representatives have approved a bill imposing sanctions against countries and companies who provide financial assistance to Syrian authorities.
The chairperson of the Committee of the House of Representatives on Foreign Affairs, Ed Royce, explained that the main objects of the bill are Russia and Iran. “We learned a painful lesson in people’s suffering. Even the UN described what is happening as a crime of historic proportions,” Royce said.
The proposed sanctions are against countries and companies who are funding the Syrian Government, supplying passenger and freight carriers to Syria, or who have connections with the energy, transport and telecommunication sectors. According to the draft bill, sanctions can be suspended in the case of successful international negotiations on a political settlement of the conflict, and in the case of a cessation of violence against civilians.
Until recently, the Administration of President Barack Obama opposed the draft bill, fearing that it could undermine Syrian peace talks conducted with the support of the US and Russia. New sanctions may also provoke Iran and give them reason to deviate from their obligations related to the freezing of their nuclear program.
On Tuesday, a State Department representative strongly condemned the resumption of Russian and Syrian air attacks in Syria stating that, according to recent data, five hospitals and a mobile clinic are among the targets that were attacked.