Special to WorldTribune.com

WASHINGTON — The United States has identified senior commanders of
President Bashar Assad in his crackdown on the Sunni revolt.

The Treasury Department has sanctioned three senior Syrian officials
said to have been responsible for the Assad offensive on the opposition. One
of those designated was Syria’s new defense minister, who replaced a
suspected Western sympathizer in mid-2011.

“The U.S. and the international community will hold to account those who stand with the Assad regime as it trains the instruments of war against Syrian civilians,” Treasury Undersecretary David Cohen said. “The time has long since passed for Syrian officials at all levels to turn their backs on
this bloody regime.”

On March 30, Treasury announced sanctions on Syrian Defense Minister Daoud Rajiha, Deputy Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Munir Adanov and presidential security chief Maj. Gen. Zuheir Shalish. Officials said the three senior commanders, any of whose U.S. assets would be frozen, was responsible for what they termed continued repression in Syria.

In August 2011, Rajiha replaced Ali Habib as Syria’s defense minister. Officials said Habib was deemed reluctant to order Syria’s military to act against civilian protesters.

In contrast, officials said, Rajiha threw Syria’s military into the
battle with Sunni rebels over the last four months. They said the new
defense minister also expanded cooperation with Iran and Hizbullah.

“Daoud Rajiha was appointed minister of defense on August 10, 2011 and
was reportedly chosen for his loyalty to the Assad regime,” Treasury said.

Adanov was said to have been Syrian deputy chief of staff since at least
July 2010. Officials said Adanov, sanctioned by the European Union,
accompanied Assad on several official visits and was directly involved in
attacks on civilians.

Treasury said Shalish served as Assad’s personal bodyguard. Shalish, a
relative of Assad, has also been sanctioned by the EU
for his involvement in “violence against demonstrators.”

“The United States will continue to work with our partners around the
world to ensure that the Syrian regime and its senior officials are held
accountable for the continued repression in Syria,” Treasury said.

  Ali Habib, Bashar Assad, Daoud Rajiha, Lt. Gen. Munir Adanov, Maj. Gen. Zuheir Shalish, Sunni revolt, Treasury Undersecretary David Cohen, U.S. Treasury Dept. sanctions three senior Syrian officials