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An anti-Assad regime demonstration under way in Suweida, southern Syria, in early June 2020. AFP
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After nearly a decade of war, Syria is crumbling under the weight of a repressive, corrupt ruling elite, a pandemic and an economic downslide compounded by western sanctions. AP Photo
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Souvenir plates bearing the Syrian flag and the portraits of Russian President Vladimir Putin and Syrian President Bashar Al Assad are pictured in a shop in a bazaar in old Damascus. AFP
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A man works in his metal workshop beneath a portrait of Syrian President Bashar Al Assad in old Damascus earlier this week. AFP
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A Syrian boy carrying textiles is pictured in the bazaar in old Damascus. AFP
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A Syrian shopkeeper waits for customers in a bazaar in old Damascus. AFP
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Syrians walk in old Damascus in front of a portrait of Syrian President Bashar Al Assad. AFP
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Syrian shoppers walk in the bazaar in old Damascus. AFP
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Syrian men work in their bakery in old Damascus. AFP
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Employees stack packets of the Syrian pound in the Central Syrian Bank in Damascus. AP Photo
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An anti-Assad regime demonstration under way in Suweida, southern Syria, in early June 2020. AFP
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After nearly a decade of war, Syria is crumbling under the weight of a repressive, corrupt ruling elite, a pandemic and an economic downslide compounded by western sanctions. AP Photo
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/G2LZG3XF23M6UNJBDNNAAGAPSE.jpg?smart=true&auth=3ff42418b5b002f8a344b96b2f46548eff365f5727c0be7226e7cd6a26b5024f&width=400&height=225)
Souvenir plates bearing the Syrian flag and the portraits of Russian President Vladimir Putin and Syrian President Bashar Al Assad are pictured in a shop in a bazaar in old Damascus. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/U6XQ5OSHGMP6U3JVEYOKPFHFIM.jpg?smart=true&auth=6b891fcf0929d6ccca897e9200fa081897538479d1ae9c4668b1a5c9b6c10676&width=400&height=225)
A man works in his metal workshop beneath a portrait of Syrian President Bashar Al Assad in old Damascus earlier this week. AFP
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A Syrian boy carrying textiles is pictured in the bazaar in old Damascus. AFP
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A Syrian shopkeeper waits for customers in a bazaar in old Damascus. AFP
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Syrians walk in old Damascus in front of a portrait of Syrian President Bashar Al Assad. AFP
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Syrian shoppers walk in the bazaar in old Damascus. AFP
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Syrian men work in their bakery in old Damascus. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/6TQLRFYNUAQMDFXIYERXRRY37Q.jpg?smart=true&auth=ecc9d32fb45247e00a1a3825fafe85d5b4c4bbd37092ff960981635684b9cd9d&width=400&height=225)
Employees stack packets of the Syrian pound in the Central Syrian Bank in Damascus. AP Photo
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An anti-Assad regime demonstration under way in Suweida, southern Syria, in early June 2020. AFP
The Caesar Act: New US sanctions undermine Syrian regime’s drive for a war dividend
New law sparked by photographs of slaughtered dissidents deepens political risk for Chinese companies and others mulling deals with Bashar Al Assad and his associates
![Khaled Yacoub Oweis](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/https%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Farc-authors%2Fthenational%2Fefa30c75-d27a-4056-a69c-9ac584809392.png?smart=true&auth=647845e021f788d3879777eb8e3abe275d6ff95e85adb6d307aa809b8e9b3bff&width=70&height=70)
Khaled Yacoub Oweis
17 June, 2020
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