State Department Sanctions Syria's al-Assad, Others

The U.S. on June 17 sanctioned Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, members of his regime and other people and entities under the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act (see 1912270034). In total, the Treasury Department and the State Department sanctioned 39 people and entities for supporting the Assad regime. The designations are the start of a “sustained campaign of economic and political pressure” against the regime, the State Department said.

Among others, the sanctions target al-Assad's wife, Asma, and a range of government supporters and officials. The State Department said it expects to issue “many more sanctions” against people and businesses in the coming months. Both agencies also stressed that the sanctions do not target shipments of humanitarian aid to Syria.