US issues new sanctions against Syrian individuals and entities
WASHINGTON DC, USA (North Press) – The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) imposed sanctions on Syrian military officials, members of the Syrian Parliament, Syrian government entities, and Syrian and Lebanese persons attempting to revive Syria’s declining petroleum industry on Monday.
OFAC stated, “This action is the Treasury Department’s fifth round of Syria-related actions since the provisions of the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act of 2019 (also known as the Caesar Act) came into full effect.”
“The Treasury Department is determined to continue to apply economic pressure on the Assad regime and its supporters for the repression conducted by the regime,” said Secretary Steven T. Mnuchin.
Concurrent with the Treasury Department’s designations, the State Department took action against two Syrian persons pursuant to Section 2 of Executive Order (E.O.) 13894, “Blocking Property and Suspending Entry of Certain Persons Contributing to the Situation in Syria.”
OFAC designated Arfada Petroleum Private Joint Stock Company (Arfada) and Sallizar Shipping SAL (Sallizar), two companies based in Syria and Lebanon, respectively, that have entered into substantial contracts with the Government of Syria to develop the Syrian oil sector.
Arfada is additionally being identified for being owned in the aggregate, directly or indirectly, 50 percent or more by OFAC designated Muhammed and his brother Hussam al-Qaterji who were designated by OFAC.
Al-Qaterji is known as the “godfather” of the regime’s oil and wheat trade with the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS). Beginning in 2014, al-Qaterji started brokering oil and wheat trade deals between the Assad regime and ISIS, and has been a Member of Parliament for the government-controlled area of Aleppo since 2016, according to the statement.
In 2018, OFAC designated Hussam al-Qaterji’s brother Muhammad al-Qatirji pursuant to E.O. 13852 for facilitating fuel trade between the Assad regime and ISIS, including providing oil products to ISIS-controlled territory.
OFAC additionally designated Kamal al-Madani and Tariq Al-Madani two of the four founders of Sallizar. Tariq Al-Madani and Kamal Al-Madani were designated pursuant to E.O. 13582 for acting or purporting to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, Sallizar.
OFAC designated General Ghassan Jaoudat Ismail (Ismail), the head of the designated Syrian Air Force Intelligence (SAFI). Ismail has served as the head of SAFI since 2019, previously serving as the Deputy Director and in charge of SAFI’s mission branch, which manages SAFI’s elite troops in cooperation with the special operations branch, who play a key role in the repression conducted by the Syrian regime.
OFAC also designated Brigadier General Nasr al-Ali, the head of the designated Political Security Directorate (PSD). al-Ali has served as the head of PSD since July 2019. Prior to being named to this position, al-Ali headed PSD branches in Aleppo and Daraa.
Additionally, OFAC designated parliamentarians Nabil Toumeh Bin Mohammed and Amer Taysir Khiti. Toumeh is a member of the Arab Socialist Ba’ath Party in the Syrian People’s Assembly and has been a representative of Damascus Province for the Syrian People’s Assembly since he was initially elected in 2016; Toumeh was reelected on July 19, 2020. Khiti, also a member of the Syrian People’s Assembly, represents Rural Damascus Province and was elected on July 19, 2020.
Lastly, OFAC designated the Military Construction Establishment (MCE) and the Productive Projects Administration (PPA). Established by legislative decree in 1972, MCE is a state-run construction company run by the Syrian Ministry of Defense. With branches throughout Syria, MCE’s branch in Damascus has most recently been involved in the Marota City real estate investment project.
According to the statement, “all property and interests in property of these persons that are in the United States or in the possession or control of U.S. persons must be blocked and reported to OFAC.”
In November 30, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced the designation of 17 new sanctions against individuals tied to the Syrian government on Wednesday, one day after the three-year anniversary of a Syrian government attack on the town of Armanaz, near Syria’s Idlib.