US sanctions 6 senior Syrian government, financial officials

WASHINGTON — The Trump administration announces new sanctions against six Syrian military, government and financial officials as part of ongoing efforts to prevent money from reaching Syrian President Bashar Assad’s government.

“We will continue pressure against the Assad regime to compel it to end its attacks against the Syrian people,” Secretary of State Mike Pompeo says, adding that the sanctions were timed to coincide with the seventh anniversary Friday of the Assad’s government’s chemical weapons attack in Ghouta that killed more than 1,400 Syrians.

The State Department sanctions Yasser Ibrahim, who is suspected of obstructing a political solution to the Syrian conflict and using his networks across the Middle East and beyond to cut deals to enrich Assad.

The US Treasury Department takes action against the Syrian presidential office and Syrian Ba’ath Party by targeting Luna al-Shibl, Assad’s presidential media adviser, and Mohamad Amar Saati, a senior Ba’ath party official. The US accuses the party official of facilitating the entry of university students into Assad-backed militias.

The military officials Fadi Saqr, Ghaith Dalah and Samer Ismail are also sanctioned.

In June, the Trump administration increased pressure on Assad, his wife, Asma, and his inner circle with new economic and travel penalties for human rights abuses and for blocking a settlement of the country’s bloody nine-year conflict. Last month, the State Department imposed sanctions on Assad’s eldest son, Hafez.

— AP