With recent accusations that Damascus has been supplying more modern and powerful weapons to Hizbollah in Lebanon, there has been a growing concern here that Israel and its powerful American ally are preparing for a summer war.

The unequivocal phrasing of the sanctions renewal, in addition to its coming at such a sensitive time, has done nothing to ease those fears.

“The extension of sanctions isn’t a surprise, it’s the new language that is unexpected,” said Mazen Bilal, a Syrian journalist and independent political commentator. “It appears as though Obama has put Syria together with Iran and North Korea as posing a high threat to America. That is hard language to be using.”

Another Syrian political analyst, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the wording appeared to be a prelude to war. “When the Americans attacked Iraq, they did so after saying that Saddam Hussein posed a threat to US national security. Now they are saying the same thing about Syria.

“Those words ‘threat to national security’ are very important, it means the Americans are preparing to strike or that they will give the green light to Israel to strike.”