US targets Assad government with arms and finance sanctions

The US treasury has announced fresh sanctions targeting the arms and financial networks of the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

It added eight people and seven entities, some with links to Russia and China, to its sanctions blacklist, which aims to hamper their work by locking them out of the global financial system.

Those listed include Russia-based representatives of the Syrian firm Hesco Engineering and Construction, which the treasury said operates energy production facilities in Syria.

The treasury designated Yona Star International and T-Rubber for sanctions for their roles supplying the Syrian defence ministry, air force and other military bodies from their international offices. T-Rubber's China agents supplied aircraft tires to the air force, it said.

Several individuals and businesses involved in international money transfers were also cited for the blacklist.

The sanctions freeze any assets those listed might have in US jurisdictions, and ban US individuals and companies from doing business with them.

"The Assad regime relentlessly engages in destabilising behavior," said Adam Szubin, the treasury's acting under-secretary for terrorism and financial Intelligence.

"Treasury will continue to act against those responsible for fueling the Assad regime's repressive actions and dangerous weapons proliferation."