Designations
Since 2005, the U.S. Treasury has made a concerted effort to impose sanctions on Syrian individuals and entities involved in: supporting terrorism; the occupation of Lebanon, pursuing weapons of mass destruction and missile programs, and undermining U.S. and international efforts with respect to the stabilization and reconstruction of Iraq. Since the outbreak of protests in early 2011, Treasury continues to apply pressure and target those responsible for violent repression against civilians.
On June 30, 2005, the U.S. Treasury designated Rustum Ghazali, Chief of Syrian Military Intelligence for Lebanon, and Ghazi Kanaan, Syrian Minister of Interior. Kanaan and Ghazali directed the Syrian government's military and security presence in Lebanon, and contributed to the government’s support for terrorism. Both men were also accused of engaging in corrupt activities and were allegedly the beneficiaries of corrupt business deals.
On January 18, 2006, the U.S. Treasury designated Assef Shawkat, Director of Syrian Military Intelligence. Shawkat was designated for his ties with both Lebanese and Palestinian terrorist organizations.
On August 15, 2006, the U.S. Treasury designated Hisham Ikhtiyar, Director of the Ba’ath Party Regional National Security Bureau, and Brigadier General Jami Jami. Ikhtiyar was designated for making significant contributions to the Syrian Government’s support for terrorist organizations, and Jami was designated for his role in the Syrian Government’s support for terrorism.
On Novermber 5, 2007, the U.S. Treasury designated Muhammad Nasif Khayrbik, Syrian Deputy Vice President for Security Affairs, for contributing to the support of international terrorism, the pursuit of weapons of mass destruction and the undermining of efforts in Iraq. Treasury also designated Hafiz Makhlouf, brother of Rami Makhlouf and a senior official in the General Intelligence Directorate, pursuant to Executive Order 13441, for undermining the sovereignty of Lebanon or its democratic processes and institutions.
On February 21, 2008, the U.S. Treasury designated Rami Makhlouf, a Syrian businessman and maternal cousin of President Bashar al-Assad, pursuant to Executive Order 13460. Makhlouf manipulated the Syrian judicial system and used Syrian intelligence officials to intimidate business rivals.
On July 10, 2008, the U.S. Treasury designated Ramak, which operates duty free shops throughout Syria, and Syriatel, a Syrian telecommunications firm. All property and interests in property of Ramak are blocked as a result of Rami Makhluf’s ownership interests, which are at least 50%.
On April 29, 2011, under Executive Order 13572, the U.S. Treasury designated the following individuals with respect to human rights abuses in Syria: Mahir al-Assad, Brigade Commander in the Syrian Army’s 4th Armored Division, Ali Mamluk, Director of the General Intelligence Directorate, and Atif Najib, former head of the Syrian Political Security Directorate for Dar’a Province.
On May 18, 2011, Nabil Rafiq al-Kuzbari, Chairman of Cham Holdings; Mohsen Chizari, Commander of Operations and Training for the IRGC-Qods Force, and six Syrian entities were added as an annex to Executive Order 13573 order or were designated pursuant to Executive Order 13572.
On June 29, 2011, the U.S. Treasury designated Major General Jamil Hassan, Head of Syrian Air Force Intelligence, pursuant to Executive Order 13572. Also designated was the Political Security Directorate, otherwise known as the Political Security Department.
On August 4, 2011, the U.S. Treasury designated Muhammad Hamsho, a Syrian businessman and Member of Parliament, as well as his company, Hamsho International Group. Hamsho has been designated for providing services in support of Bashar al-Assad and Mahir al-Assad.
On August 10, 2011, pursuant to Executive Order 13382, which was signed on June 28, 2005, the U.S Treasury designated the Commercial Bank of Syria; its subsidiary, the Syrian-Lebanese Commercial Bank; and Syriatel, the largest mobile phone operator in Syria, pursuant to Executive Order 13572.
On August 30, 2011, the U.S. Department of the Treasury announced the designation of three Syrian officials pursuant to Executive Order 13573: Walid al-Moallem, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Ali Abdul Karim Ali, Syrian Ambassador to Lebanon, and Bouthaina Shaaban, Political and Media Advisor at the Presidency.