Sep 6, 2018

The US Treasury announced sanctions Thursday targeting a network of business groups that supplies fuels to the regime of Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad, along with one that handles regime trade with the Islamic State group.

The Treasury said the four individuals and five companies added to its financial blacklist were important to helping Assad's regime obtain much-needed crude oil and fuels despite sanctions on Syria.

It named Muhammad al-Qatirji and his Qatirji Company as a key broker of fuel trade between the Assad regime and the Islamic State group, despite the two sides fighting each other on the battlefield.

Qatirji provides oil products to the jihadist group but also ships weapons and food for the regime, ac

cording to the Treasury.