US sanctions three firms for aiding Syria

The US Treasury Department is sanctioning three companies suspected of aiding the Syrian government, which is fighting opposition forces in a civil war that has killed more than 160,000 people.

The Treasury Department on Wednesday designated Pangates International Corp., a petroleum company based in the United Arab Emirates, for supplying materials to the Syrian government and the Syrian state oil company.

Also sanctioned were Expert Partners and Megatrade, two Syrian-based companies suspected of having links to Syria's weapons programs.

The department says the two companies act on behalf of the US-sanctioned Scientific Studies and Research Center.

That's the Syrian agency responsible for developing and producing non-conventional weapons and ballistic missiles.

The action bans Americans from conducting transactions with the companies named and freezes any assets they may have under US jurisdiction.