The U.S. Treasury said it imposed sanctions on Tuesday against five people and five entities accused of providing support to Assad regime or linked to those previously sanctioned over the regime's violence against Syrians.
Among those put on the Treasury sanctions blacklist are Muhammad Abbas, a cousin of Rami Makhlouf, a dominant business figure in Syria and himself a cousin of regime leader Bashar al-Assad. The Treasury sanctioned Makhlouf in 2008, accusing him of benefiting from and aiding the corruption of regime officials.
The Treasury said Abbas carried out Makhlouf's financial interests. It also sanctioned the Al-Bustan Charity and its director, saying the charity was owned or controlled by Makhlouf.
Also blacklisted were Ihab and Iyad Makhlouf, Rami Makhlouf's brothers, for helping Rami Makhlouf or the regime evade sanctions. Ihab Makhlouf is the vice chairman of Syrian mobile phone company Syriatel, which Rami Makhlouf owns.
The moves seek to freeze any U.S. assets the people and entities may control and prohibits Americans and U.S. entities from transactions with them.
