US blacklists 4 Syrian ministers, rebel leader

Treasury Department sanctions target both sides fighting in civil war

17 May 2013, 12:18 am

Edit

A Syrian boy waves the Syrian revolutionary flag during a commemorative celebration of the second anniversary of the Syrian revolution, in Amman, Jordan, March 16, 2013. (photo credit: AP/Mohammad Hannon)

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Obama administration has added four Syrian government ministers to a US terror blacklist, as well as the leader of an al-Qaeda-linked organization fighting President Bashar Assad’s regime.

Thursday’s actions highlight America’s twin goals in Syria: It wants the Assad regime to end, but doesn’t want extremists taking power.

The Treasury Department targeted the defense, health, industry and justice ministers in Assad’s government, plus a Syrian TV station and its national airline. Assets they have in the US are blocked; Americans are prohibited from doing business with them.

Meanwhile, the State Department designated Jabhat al-Nusra leader Muhammad al-Jawlani as a “global terrorist,” subjecting him to similar sanctions.

It said Jawlani aims to create an Islamist state in Syria, and it blamed him for terrorist attacks on civilians.