US imposes sanctions on UAE-based companies for Assad links

Washington announced on Thursday that it is imposing sanctions on four people and five companies for their cooperation with the Assad regime in Syria, Thenewkhalij.org has reported. Two of the companies are based in the UAE.

In a statement, the US administration said that the sanctions were imposed because the companies were “supplying weapons and fuel to the Syrian regime under President Bashar Al-Assad.” The UAE companies were named as International Pipeline Construction (IPC) and Sonex Investments Ltd.

The latter, said the US, “acted as a buyer, consignee, or charterer for shipments of crude oil and petroleum products discharged at Baniyas, Syria.” IPC, meanwhile, is said to have facilitated financial transactions originating in the war-torn country.