Predictions
- US sanctions on Assad family and central bank will exacerbate ongoing economic crisis but pose no threat to regime’s stability
- Measures will fail to sever long-standing ties between Damascus and Tehran given extensive black market business relations
- Opposition areas will see few economic repercussions, making related unrest unlikely, while any protests over living conditions in government-held areas will not escalate
Event
The US declared economic sanctions against the extended family of President Assad, several senior officials, and nine Syrian businesses on 22 December. The measures included freezing assets belonging to the president’s wife Asma Assad and four members of her family residing in the UK.
Falanx Assynt is a global intelligence consultancy and leading provider of geopolitical, strategic and business risk analysis since 2003. Falanx Assynt is part of Falanx Group Ltd (LON:FLX) which, through its subsidiaries, provides cyber defence and intelligence services to blue chip and government clients worldwide.