WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States on Thursday ratcheted up its pressure on Syria, freezing the assets of Syria's interior minister and a second official on charges they led military and security activities in Lebanon.
Long-running tensions between the United States and Syria have steadily risen recently over U.S. allegations that Damascus was hiding agents in neighboring Lebanon, undermining efforts to stabilize Iraq and supporting terrorism in the region.
In its latest move to isolate Syria financially and put pressure on its government, the U.S. Treasury Department blocked the assets of Ghazi Kanaan, Syria's interior minister, and Rustum Ghazali, identified as the chief of Syrian military intelligence for Lebanon.
The Treasury named them as "Specially Designated Nationals" of Syria -- a move that freezes any assets they hold in the United States and prohibits U.S. citizens from doing business with them.
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