On 22 January, the Council of the European Union sanctioned an additional six people and five entities in Syria, barring them from EU travel and obtaining European funds or resources directly or indirectly. While the EU’s targeted sanctions on Syria aim to avoid harming civilians, their unintended consequences and limited effectiveness are raising questions about their overall impact on the country’s ongoing humanitarian crisis, necessitating a reevaluation of the sanctions strategy in conjunction with a more robust humanitarian response. This article discusses the impact such sanctions have had on the conflict in Syria, as well as their unintended consequences for Syrian civilians. It argues that the complexity of targeted sanctions in Syria demands meticulous planning, realistic expectations, and thorough impact assessments. It recommends to implement a more nuanced and realistic approach to targeted sanctions, including a thorough assessment of potential targets, a realistic understanding of the achievable outcomes and, most importantly, promoting a well-informed public debate. It also recommends enhancing the quality of public debate, especially in terms of inclusivity and transparency, to address the adverse impact of lack of information and basic misconceptions about its impact and effectiveness.