August 20, 2020

OFAC joins with the Department of State to target supporters of the Syrian regime

The Office of Foreign Assets Control of the US Department of the Treasury has designated two senior members of the Syrian government pursuant to Executive Order 13573 for their roles as officials supporting the regime of Bashar Al Assad.  The individuals designated are Luna Al Shibl, Assad’s press officer and a member of Assad’s inner circle, and Mohamad Ammar Saati bin Mohamad Nawzad, a leader of the Syrian Ba’ath Party and the husband of Al Shibl.

In a parallel move, the US Department of State has designated four individuals pursuant to Section 2 of Executive Order 13894 for preventing a ceasefire in Syria and for preventing or obstructing a political solution to the Syrian conflict.  The designated individuals are  three military commanders in the Syrian national defense forces, and a close associate of Assad who, according to the State Department, engages in corrupt transactions to help enrich Assad.

As a result of these sanctions, US property of the designated individuals is blocked, and US persons are generally prohibited from dealing with such property.

US Dept. of the Treasury press release | US Dept. of State press statement