US Treasury OFAC today sanctioned Amjad Abbas, the person who executed the Tadamon Massacre in 2013. The impact of such sanctions on the regime at this point is virtually nonexistent—an act of virtue signaling more than anything else.

On the other hand, sanctioning, say, one Emirati or Lebanese national after exposing their business ties to Assad or his cronies would hurt the regime more than all the listings since the enactment of the Caesar Act combined. This would keep the regime’s numerous enablers abroad on their toes.

That’s how we suffocate it. Threatening the use of secondary sanctions, which are permitted under the Act, without ever using them renders their ability to deter weaker and weaker.