Syrian demonstrators in the capital Damascus have staged rally to condemn US sanctions against businesses and economic institutions supporting Bashar al-Assad government.

The event on Thursday in an area west of the city saw thousands of demonstrators chanting slogans against the United States while waving Syrian flags and images of Assad in a show of support for his government.

The protest came days before new US sanctions targeting Syria and its regional allies would come into effect in the United States as part of the so-called Caesar Act, an American piece of legislation which alleges to support the Syrian people by protecting them against the Syrian administration’s way of governance.

The people who attended the Thursday demonstration condemned the Caesar Act as a harsh measure against the very people of Syria who have suffered as a result of a conflict that was triggered in early 2011 and has led to the death of thousands.

“Caesar's sanctions affect the financial health of the citizens, unlike all global sanctions. They affect even civilians, meaning the punishment is against the people specifically,” said Yaroub Kheirbeik, a journalist attending the protest in Damascus.