US Imposes Fresh Sanctions on Syria
The US Treasury Department has imposed new sanctions on several individuals and entities in Syria.
The United States on Wednesday added fresh sanctions on Syria, blacklisting several people and entities.
In a separate statement, the US Treasury Department said that the new sanctions include eight individuals and ten entities.
The Treasury Department said that the sanctions “included branches of the Syrian Military Intelligence and the Syrian General Intelligence Directorate”, adding that the US government affirms “its commitment to supporting the Syrian people”.
The US imposed similar sanctions on Syria in September and December of last year. These rounds of sanctions “aim to discourage future investment in government-controlled areas of Syria, force the regime to end its atrocities against the Syrian people, and compel its commitment to the United Nations–facilitated process in line with UN Security Council Resolution 2254,” according to the US Treasury Department .
The sanctions came just few days after Russia's special presidential envoy to Syria Alexander Lavrentiev called to lift the sanctions imposed on the Syrians due to their support of the Syrian government.
Lavrentiev called for putting an end to "the collective punishment imposed on the Syrian people for the sole reason that they support the legitimate government."
Besides, the US imposed the "Caesar Act", in addition to the fresh US and European sanctions, over unfounded accusations of chemical weapons attacks and war crimes.
In addition to the Syrian government, the "Caesar Act" targets all individuals and companies that provide financing or assistance to Syria, as well as a number of Syrian industries, including those related to infrastructure, military maintenance, and energy production.