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US Imposes New Sanctions on Syrian Government

VOA News

   The U.S. has sanctioned 13 entities and six people in an ongoing
   campaign to cut off revenue to the government of Syrian President
   Bashar al-Assad.

   The U.S. Treasury Department said Wednesday the governor of the Central
   Bank of Syria was among those who were blacklisted, as were the head of
   the Syrian General Intelligence Directorate and a Syrian businessman
   who was allegedly linked to Assad's government.

   The Treasury also said the sanctions freeze any U.S. assets the
   individuals and entities hold and generally prohibit Americans from
   conducting business with them.

   The individuals and entities were targeted, Treasury said, because they
   were "key enablers" of the Assad government.

   "Those who continue to stand with the brutal regime of Bashar al-Assad
   further enable its corruption and human rights abuses," Treasury
   Secretary Steve Mnuchin said in a statement.

   Assad launched a crackdown on protesters in 2011, leading to a civil
   war during which Iran and Russia supported Assad, while the U.S. backed
   the opposition.

   The ongoing civil war has forced millions of Syrians to flee the
   country and more have been displaced within Syria.