The European Union has reinforced new sanctions on Saturday against the supporters of the Syrian regime, including a businessman allegedly trading oil and gas with Daesh, the Arabic acronym of the militant group ISIL.
The EU has targeted George Haswani, the Syrian businessman who has allegedly arranged oil and gas deals between the Syrian regime and Daesh which announced a 'caliphate' across Iraq and Syria.
Seven people and six entities providing support to the Syrian regime have been targeted with a travel ban and an EU asset freeze with Saturday’s new sanction announcement.
The EU announced in December that it would continue to impose and enforce sanctions that target the Syrian regime and its supporters as long as repression continues.
Assad opponents in Syria's civil war, which has seen the lives of more than 150,000 people claimed so far, pit a fragmented opposition against regime forces. The war has also paved the way for extremist movements, such as Daesh, to gain a foothold in the region.
By E. Gurkan Abay
Anadolu Agency
gurkan.abay@aa.com.tr