The Council of the European Union has issued a formal declaration that maintains several individuals and one entity inside their sanction lists
April 10th, 2026 – The Council of the European Union has formally notified several individuals and a legal entity of its intention to maintain restrictive measures set under Council Decision 2013/255/CFSP and Regulation (EU) 36/2012, reaffirming ongoing sanctions policy in response to the situation in Syria.
The persons concerned include senior figures from Syria’s security and military apparatus, as well as business actors linked to the regime, and individuals associated to pro-government militias, alongside the company Hamcho International.
The Council’s decision reflects a continued assessment that the listed parties meet the criteria for designation under the EU’s Syria sanctions regime. These criteria broadly encompass responsibility for repression, provision of support to the regime, or economic benefit derived from close association with it.
A number of those listed, including Ali Mamluk and Jamil Hassan, are long-standing members of Syria’s intelligence and security structures. The EU considers these bodies to have played a central role in the repression of the civilian population, including through surveillance, arbitrary detention, and the use of force against opposition groups.
Other individuals, such as Mohammed Hamcho and Hussam al-Qatarji, are designated on the basis of their economic ties to the regime. According to the Council’s reasoning, such actors contribute to the financial resilience of the Syrian government, including through activities in key sectors such as trade, energy, and reconstruction, thereby indirectly supporting state policies and operations.
The listings also include militia leaders and affiliated figures, such as Ayman Jabir, who are associated with pro-government armed groups. These actors are considered to have participated in or supported military operations aligned with the regime.
In addition, the sanctions extend to non-Syrian individuals deemed to provide external support to the Syrian authorities, notably iranian cleric Hossein Taeb, ex.head of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corp’s Intelligence Organization, reflecting the EU’s position on third-country involvement in the conflict.
