US sanctions Assad's father-in-law

The US State Department has again sanctioned Fawaz al-Akhras, a UK resident and the father-in-law of ousted Syrian President Bashar al-Assad for "materially assisting, sponsoring, or providing financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services to or in support of, Bashar al-Assad," a statement said on Monday.

Akhras was previously sanctioned in 2020. 

Assad himself was also previously designated "in relation to the Government of Syria’s perpetration of serious human rights abuses against the Syrian people and Bashar al-Assad’s actions obstructing, disrupting, or preventing a ceasefire or a political solution to the Syrian conflict," the State Department said.

The move coincides with International Anti-Corruption Day, during which the US wanted to "promote accountability for perpetrators of corruption and human rights abuse around the world."