US sanctions Iran-backed militias fighting in Syria

The US Treasury announced sanctions Thursday (January 24th) on two Iran-backed militias fighting in Syria, AFP reported.

The Afghan Fatemiyoun Division and the Pakistani Zainabiyoun Brigade were placed on the financial blacklist, which aims to cut off their access to international financial networks to choke their operations.

Both militias are recruited by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) from communities of refugees and migrants living inside Iran, and sent to fight for the Syrian regime, the Treasury said.

"The brutal Iranian regime exploits refugee communities in Iran... and uses them as human shields for the Syrian conflict," Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said in a statement.

"Treasury's targeting of Iran-backed militias and other foreign proxies is part of our ongoing pressure campaign to shut down the illicit networks the regime uses to export terrorism and unrest across the globe," he said.

The Treasury also designated for sanctions Qeshm Fars Air, an airline it said was controlled by already-sanctioned Mahan Air, and Armenia-based Flight Travel LLC, which markets for Mahan.

Qeshm Fars was a dormant carrier until 2017, when it was revived to deliver passengers and cargo to Damascus from Iran with two B747 aircraft on behalf of the IRGC.

The carrier is being staffed by Mahan Air employees and receives Mahan technical support, the Treasury said.

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