Trump to hit Syria's Assad with fresh round of sanctions on Syrian weapons programs
Thomson Reuters
The Trump administration will issue new sanctions against Syria as early as Monday as part of its ongoing crackdown on the Syrian government and those who support it.
Three US officials said that the sanctions are part of a broader effort to cut off funding and other support to Syria's President Bashar Assad and his government amid the country's escalating civil war.
The US blames Assad for a recent chemical attack on Syrian civilians, and responded earlier this month by launching missiles against a Syrian airfield.
One official said the sanctions will primarily target weapons manufacturers believed to aid Assad's use of chemical weapons.
The officials spoke anonymously because they were not authorized to discuss the decision publicly.
Trump has called Assad "evil" and said his use of chemical weapons "crossed a lot of lines."
The US has gradually been expanding its sanctions program against Syria since 2004, when it issued sanctions targeting Syria for a range of offenses, including its support of terrorism, as well as its occupation of Lebanon, efforts to undermine stability in Iraq and pursuit of weapons of mass destruction.
More recently, sanctions were expanded in connection with its civil war, now in its sixth year, to target offenses linked to the ongoing violence and human rights abuses.
Current Syria sanctions seek to block the property and interests in property of the Syrian government from receiving funding and support.
Bassam Diab/UNHCR/Handout via REUTERS
The US has also issued sanctions for foreign individuals or companies that support Assad's government. A number of Iranian entities have been penalized for supporting the Syrian government or fighters working to undermine peace in Syria.
While Moscow and Washington are continuously at odds over Syria, the US has not imposed any Syria-related sanctions on Russia.