In a State Department release from March 6, attributed to Secretary of State Antony Blinken, the policy of full sanctions until a regime change of Syrian President Assad is accomplished: “As the United States and the world comes to the aid of the Syrian people in the aftermath of last month’s earthquakes, we are reminded that their humanitarian suffering long predates this natural disaster. This month marks the twelfth year of conflict in Syria during which the Assad regime has committed innumerable atrocities, some of which rise to the level of war crimes and crimes against humanity.”