Eight individuals and 10 entities have been blacklisted.
The U.S. Department of the Treasury on Wednesday imposed fresh Syria-related sanctions on individuals and entities, increasing pressure on President Bashar al-Assad’s government. It is the first time President Biden’s administration has introduced new sanctions on that country.
The United States blacklisted eight individuals and 10 entities in separate counterterrorism and Syrian-related actions, including branches of the Syrian general and military intelligence, the department’s website said. It sanctioned eight Syrian prisons, five Assad regime officials, two militia groups, and two militia leaders, according to the U.S. Secretary of State.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken said, “These actions underscore the U.S. commitment to promote respect for human rights and accountability for abuse against Syrians.” He added that more “than 14,000 detainees have reportedly died after being tortured at the hands of the Assad regime, according to the Syrian Network for Human Rights, while 130,000 Syrians are reportedly still missing or detained.”
As the Lord Leads, Pray with Us…
- For officials in the Departments of the Treasury and State as they implement sanctions for human rights abuses.
- For discernment for the president and his administration in dealing with violent regimes.
- For the people of Syria as they live under the Assad regime.
Sources: AP, NPR
