
The United States imposed sanctions Wednesday on supporters of the Syrian regime, including a middleman accused of buying oil from the Islamic State group and the Russian head of the World Chess Federation.
"The Syrian government is responsible for widespread brutality and violence against its own people," said Adam Szubin, acting under secretary for terrorism and financial intelligence, in a statement announcing the sanctions action.
"The United States will continue targeting the finances of all those enabling Assad to continue inflicting violence on the Syrian people."
The Treasury Department named four individuals and six entities for sanctions for their support of the regime of President Bashar al-Assad, "including a middleman for oil purchases by the Syrian regime from the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL)," another name for the Islamic State group.
The department highlighted "ongoing government of Syria ties to ISIL."
Sanctions were imposed on George Haswani, a Syrian national, and his company, HESCO Engineering and Construction Company.
"Haswani is a Syrian businessman who serves as a middleman for oil purchases by the Syrian regime from ISIL. HESCO is a Syrian engineering and construction company that operates energy production facilities in Syria, reportedly in areas controlled by ISIL," the Treasury Department said.
The European Union placed Haswani on its blacklist last March.
Also sanctioned Wednesday was Kirsan Ilyumzhinov, a wealthy Russian businessman and president of the World Chess Federation, and Mudalal Khuri, who "owns or controls" five of the entities designated.
Similarly the bank that Ilyumzhinov "owns or controls" Russian Financial Alliance Bank, also was sanctioned. Ilyumzhinov is linked to financial transactions involving Khuri-associated companies.
Other sanctions targets include Primax Business Consultants Limited and Belize-based Kremsont Commercial Inc.
The sanctions forbid US individuals or entities from doing any business with those on the blacklist, restricting their access to international financial networks crucial to doing business.Oil revenues are a major financial support for the Islamic State group.
The jihadists have seized swaths of territory in Syria and Iraq and sold crude oil from seized refineries on the black market. Washington announced Monday that US warplanes had destroyed 283 fuel tankers that were being used to transport oil to help fund the Islamic State group in eastern Syria.
Source: AFP
GMT 12:28 2018 Friday ,31 August
Algeria, reaffirm support to Sahrawi and Palestinian peoplesGMT 11:54 2018 Friday ,31 August
Second mine explodes in Mghilla 'Four soldiers wounded'GMT 11:30 2018 Friday ,31 August
UNSMIL condemns escalation of Violence in Great Tripoli areaGMT 11:15 2018 Friday ,31 August
Morocco, U.S Committed to Fighting Terrorism 'US Official'GMT 16:27 2018 Thursday ,30 August
PPS Considers Withdrawing from Ruling Coalition amid Tension with PJDGMT 15:34 2018 Thursday ,30 August
3 Bunkers, 4 homemade bombs discovered, destroyed in SkikdaGMT 15:10 2018 Thursday ,30 August
AU's Decision to Support UN-led Process, 'Big Win" for MoroccoGMT 12:47 2018 Thursday ,30 August
Cuba backed Polisario by providing military aid to Algeria
Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2025 ©
Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2025 ©
Send your comments
Your comment as a visitor