U.S. Treasury Announces New Sanctions to 'Disrupt Flow of Weapons' to Syria

The United States on Wednesday accused a Belarus state-owned firm of supplying munitions to the Syrian government, as it announced new sanctions focused on the Syrian conflict.

The U.S. Treasury named Belarus firm Belvneshpromservice and the Syrian military's Army Supply Service for sanctions under U.S. executive order 13382 that identifies targets as proliferators or supporters of proliferators of weapons of mass destruction.

The Treasury said Belvneshpromservice had supplied fuses for aerial bombs used by the Syrian military via the Army Supply Bureau.

Meanwhile, the Army Supply Bureau was listed for sanctions for work with the Iranian military's Iran Electronics Industries, which the Treasury said supplied electronic jamming equipment to Syria's military.

Also listed under the new sanctions was Amr Armanazi, head of Syria's Scientific Studies Research Center, which the U.S. said seeks to develop biological and chemical weapons and the missiles to deliver them.

"Today's actions seek to disrupt the flow of weapons and communications equipment to the Syrian regime and help prevent their use against the Syrian people," said David Cohen, the Treasury under secretary for terrorism and financial intelligence.