US imposes sanctions on supporters of Syrian regime

By Umar Farooq

WASHINGTON

The U.S. imposed sanctions Thursday on individuals and entities that have provided support to Syria's Bashar al-Assad regime.

The announcement, which was made by the State Department and posted on the Treasury Department’s website, said all U.S. individuals and entities are hereby prohibited from doing business with them.

The individuals sanctioned are Syrian nationals Yasir ‘Abas, Adnan Al-Ali and Muhammad al-Qatirji and Lebanese national Fadi Nasser.

The entities are the Syria-based Qatirji Company, Lebanon-based Nasco Polymers & Chemicals and Abar Petroleum Service SAL and the United Arab Emirates-based International Pipeline Construction and Sonex Investments Ltd.

"The United States will continue to use all available mechanisms to isolate the Assad regime, a government which has systematically arrested, tortured and murdered tens of thousands of Syrian civilians in response to their legitimate and nonviolent calls for their freedom, rights and political reforms," the State Department said in a statement.

The Syrian regime has recently announced plans to launch a major military offensive in the northwestern province of Idlib, which is controlled by various armed opposition groups.

Russian warplanes on Tuesday pounded civilian and opposition targets in Idlib.

Located near the Turkish border, Idlib is home to more than 3 million Syrians, many of whom fled from other cities following attacks by regime forces.

On Tuesday, UN humanitarian chief Mark Lowcock warned that such an offensive would lead to the "worst humanitarian catastrophe in the 21st century".