The United States imposes new sanctions on Syria, targeting the Central Bank, and blacklisting a number of individuals and entities

The United States imposed new sanctions on Syria on Tuesday, targeting the Central Bank of Syria and blacklisting a number of individuals and entities as part of its ongoing efforts to cut funding to the government of President Bashar al Assad.

These measures come in the wake of a series of sanctions imposed by Washington on Syria this year, and represent a new round in the United States’ attempts to push the Assad government to return to the United Nations-led negotiations to end the civil war that began nearly ten years ago.

“The United States will continue to seek accountability for those who prolong this conflict,” US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a statement.

The US Treasury Department said in a separate statement that the new sanctions add two individuals, nine commercial entities and the Central Bank of Syria to the sanctions list.

Pompeo said his ministry had also imposed sanctions on Asma al Assad, the British-born wife of the Syrian president, accusing her of obstructing efforts to reach a political solution to the war, along with several members of her family. 

Washington imposed sanctions on Asma al Assad in June.

Millions have fled Syria and millions of others have been internally displaced since Assad’s crackdown on protesters in 2011 led to a civil war in which Iran and Russia support the government while the United States supports the opposition.

Syria is subject to sanctions by the United States and the European Union that have led to the freezing of foreign assets owned by the state and hundreds of companies and individuals.

Washington already prohibits exports to Syria and US investment there, as well as transactions related to oil and gas products.