US warns of sanctions against foreign businesses tied to Syrian regime

It comes as Damascus held the 61st round of an International Trade Fair aimed at reconstructing the war-torn country

Firefighters from the Syrian Civil Defence extinguish a blaze at a vehicle gathering point for fleeing civilians, which was hit by government bombardment, in Maar Shurin. Omar Haj Kadour / AFP

The US repeated calls on Wednesday for sanctions against foreign companies that have ties to Syrian President Bashar Al Assad's regime.

Syria has suffered immense damage and physical destruction after nearly eight years of civil war has killed hundreds of thousands of people.

“We reiterate our warning that anyone doing business with [the] Assad regime or its associates is exposing themselves to the possibility of US sanctions,” the US Embassy in Syria said on Twitter.

The warning comes as Damascus held the 61st round of its International Trade Fair, which was suspended after the war started in 2011, but resumed in 2017.

The fair aims to encourage foreign investment to assist in the reconstruction of the war-torn country.

About 500 companies are expected to take part, Syrian state news agency, Sana, reported.

But the government needs billions of dollars for the reconstruction. The United Nations estimates the cost at $250 billion (Dh918bn), whereas the World Bank predicts a $780 billion cost if the war continues until 2021.

The US and  European states say they cannot provide aid for reconstruction in Syria without a political transition and end to the war.

"The fair sends a direct message of Syrian victory to the world especially against attempts of isolating the country," the agency said.

Washington has repeatedly said that it is “unacceptable and inappropriate” for businesses and chambers of commerce to participate in the trade fair with the Syrian regime.

Especially "at a time when the Assad regime and its allies Russia and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps are attacking innocent Syrians,” the embassy said.

The development comes as the Syrian army is continuing its battle against rebel groups in the north.

"The Assad regime continues to use its financial resources to carry out vicious attacks against the Syrian people," the embassy said.  Anyone doing business with Mr Al Assad "will be enabling the regime to continue its campaign of murder and oppression", it said.

After eight years of conflict, Syrian government forces backed by Russia are several months into an operation to quash armed opposition groups and extremists in the north-west province of Idlib.

Syrian civilians flee a conflict zone in Syria's rebel-held northwestern region of Idlib, where government bombardment has killed hundreds since late April, near Maar Shurin on the outskirts of Maaret Al Numan. Damascus said it is opening a corridor for civilians to leave the rebel-held northwestern region of Idlib. AFP

A handout picture released by the official Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) shows members of the Syrian Red Crescent standing on a road, designated as the corridor for civilians to leave the opposition-held northwestern region of Idlib. AFP

Syrians fleeing from the town of Maaret Al Numan and its surrounding countryside drive with their belongings north near the town of Saraqib in the northwestern Idlib province. AFP

Syrians fleeing from the town of Maaret Al Numan and its surrounding countryside drive with their belongings north near the town of Saraqib in the northwestern Idlib province. AFP

Syrian civilians flee. AFP

Syrians fleeing from the town of Maaret al-Numan and its surrounding countryside drive with their belongings northwards near the town of Saraqib in the northwestern Idlib province. AFP

Syrians fleeing from the town of Maaret al-Numan and its surrounding countryside drive with their belongings northwards near the town of Saraqib in the northwestern Idlib province. AFP

Syrians fleeing from the town of Maaret al-Numan and its surrounding countryside drive with their belongings northwards near the town of Saraqib in the northwestern Idlib province. AFP

Syrians fleeing from the town of Maaret al-Numan and its surrounding countryside drive with their belongings northwards near the town of Saraqib in the northwestern Idlib province. AFP

Syrian civilians flee a conflict zone in Syria's rebel-held northwestern region of Idlib, where government bombardment has killed hundreds since late April, near Maar Shurin on the outskirts of Maaret Al Numan. AFP

Syrian civilians flee a conflict zone in Syria's rebel-held northwestern region of Idlib, where government bombardment has killed hundreds since late April, near Maar Shurin on the outskirts of Maaret al-Numan. AFP

Syrian civilians flee a conflict zone in Syria's rebel-held northwestern region of Idlib, where government bombardment has killed hundreds since late April, near Maar Shurin on the outskirts of Maaret al-Numan. AFP

This photo provided by the Syrian Civil Defence White Helmets, a worker searches the rubble of a destroyed building that was hit by airstrikes . AP

A picture taken shows Turkish military vehicles passing through Maaret Al Numan. AFP

Victory for Mr Al Assad would all but mark the end of the military phase of the war in Syria, which erupted after his forces brutally suppressed a series of peaceful, anti-government protests in 2011.

At the same time, the violence has displaced more than 400,000 people including many already uprooted from other areas since last April, the United Nations said.

The Syrian war has killed more than 370,000 and displaced millions of people.