United States Sanctions Two Iran-Linked Militia Groups Operating in Syria

The United States on Thursday, January 24, sanctioned two Iran-linked militia groups operating in Syria, along with another Iranian airline and an aviation services company in Armenia.

The U.S. Treasury Department announced in a statement that it has added the “Fatimiyoun” group, comprised of Afghan militia members, and the “Zainabiyoun” group, consisting of Pakistani fighters, to its sanctions list.

These two militia groups operate in Syria under the command of the Quds Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and Iran’s Basij forces affiliated with the IRGC, in support of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s government in Damascus.

The U.S. Treasury Secretary stated in the announcement: “Iran’s brutal regime exploits the migrant population in that country, depriving them of access to basic services and using them as human shields in the Syrian conflict.”

According to Steven Mnuchin, the sanctioning of Iran-backed militia members and foreign proxy groups is part of a campaign to dismantle the regime’s illegal network that seeks to export terrorism across the globe.

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo shortly afterward tweeted, referencing the Treasury Department statement: “This comes just days after Germany banned Mahan Air… Maximum pressure continues.”

Today, @USTreasury sanctioned #Iran‘s regime for preying on refugees, using them as cannon fodder in Syria. This comes just days after Germany banned Mahan Air, and after recent action against the regime’s despicable use of child soldiers. Maximum pressure continues.

— Secretary Pompeo (@SecPompeo) January 24, 2019

The Treasury Department statement also noted that Qeshm Fars Air, owned or operated by Iran’s Mahan Airlines, has been sanctioned for providing services to the Quds Force.

An aviation services company based in Armenia has also been added to the sanctions list for supporting Mahan or operating on behalf of the airline, which was previously placed on the U.S. sanctions list.

Mahan Airlines was added to the American sanctions list in October 2011 for providing financial and technical services to the Quds Force. The Quds Force was previously sanctioned in October 2007, and the Basij in October 2018.

Source: Voice of America