Britain sanctions individuals and entities over violations in Syria

According to the sanctions notice issued on Friday, 19 December, by the UK Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI) at HM Treasury, the “UK Sanctions List” published on the British government’s official website has been amended, with changes incorporated into the consolidated list and sanctions taking effect immediately.

The sanctions cover six individuals, among them Mohammad Hussein al-Jassem (Abu Amsha) and Sayf Bulad (Abu Bakr).

After the fall of the former Syrian regime, Mohammad al-Jassem was appointed commander of the “62nd Division”, and Sayf Bulad commander of the “76th Division”, each holding the rank of brigadier general within the ranks of the new Syrian army.

The list also includes Ghiath Dalla and Moqdad Fteikha, both officers in the former regime’s army, as well as Madlul Khoury and Imad Khoury, whom Britain says are involved in financial and economic activities supporting the Assad regime, including providing resources that contributed to the continuation of violations, in addition to activities linked to prohibited files such as the chemical weapons program.

Alongside the individuals, Britain added three military entities to the sanctions list, namely the Hamza Brigade (al-Hamzat), the Sultan Suleiman Shah Brigade (al-Amshat), and the Sultan Murad Brigade, classifying all of them as militias involved in repressing civilians, according to the British statement.

Under the decision, individuals and institutions in Britain or under its jurisdiction are prohibited from holding any funds or economic resources belonging to the listed names, or making such assets available directly or indirectly. They are required to report any frozen assets, under penalty of legal prosecution.

Previous sanctions

The European Union had previously added two individuals and three entities to its sanctions lists related to Syria, due to their links to events that took place on the Syrian coast in March.

According to the EU decision issued on 28 May, those sanctioned include commanders Mohammad Hussein al-Jassem, known as “Abu Amsha”, and Sayf Bulad (Abu Bakr).

The decision stated that the entities led by these two men were responsible for serious human rights violations, including arbitrary killings during the violence that swept the coastal region in March.

The European Union added three entities to its sanctions lists, namely the Sultan Suleiman Shah Brigade (al-Amshat), previously led by Abu Amsha, the Hamza Brigade (al-Hamzat), previously led by Sayf Bulad (Abu Bakr), and the Sultan Murad Brigade led by Fahim Issa. However, the new UK sanctions did not include Fahim Issa personally, targeting only the entity he leads.

Violations in the Syrian coastal region took place between 6 and 10 March, in what was one of the worst waves of violence Syria has seen since the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime on 8 December 2024.

The “coastal events” during that period resulted in the extrajudicial killingof 803 people. The violence began with an ambush by gunmen loyal to the deposed regime in the coastal region, described by the Syrian government as “remnants of the regime”, targeting security personnel.

[Source: Enab Baladi English]