US imposes new sanctions on Syrian regime, including Assad and his wife

The United States on Wednesday imposed sanctions on 39 individuals and entities including Syrian President Bashar Al Assad and his wife Asma to choke off revenue for his government in a bid to push it back to United Nations-led negotiations.

Those sanctioned under what is known as the 'Caesar Act' included the Syrian leader's siblings Maher and Bushra.

In a statement announcing the designations imposed under the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act - signed by US President Donald Trump in December - US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said more sanctions against Assad government should be expected in the coming weeks and months.

"We anticipate many more sanctions and we will not stop until Assad and his regime stop their needless, brutal war against the Syrian people," Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a statement.

The Syrian leader stands accused of a slate of war crimes against his own people across the nine-year civil war, including ordering the use of chemical weapons in rebel-held areas in several incidents.

The US said the “funder of these atrocities, Mohammed Hamsho, and the Iranian militia Fatemiyoun Division” were also sanctioned.

This is first time the Syrian leader's wife Asma Akhras Al Assad is designated by US sanctions.

The US statement said that "with the support of her husband and members of her Akhras family [she] has become one of Syria’s most notorious war profiteers. Now anyone doing business with any of these persons or entities is at risk of sanctions."

More to follow.