US sanctions on Myanmar

This time, the United States has issued new sanctions targeting the fuel supply of the Myanmar Air Force. The ban has been issued in view of the air strikes that the junta has been carrying out on civilians for the past two years after taking power.

According to a statement from the Treasury Department, also known as the US Treasury Department, on Friday, the sanctions this time targeted Myanmar's warplane refueling system. 2 individuals and 6 organizations linked to the Myanmar military are included in the ban. All of them are involved in supplying jet fuel to the junta.

"These individuals and entities have enabled Myanmar's military to carry out incessant airstrikes and bombings of civilians by providing fighter jet fuel and helping to import and stockpile it," the Treasury Department statement said.

On 1 February 2021, the military overthrew the government of Myanmar's pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi in a coup led by army chief General Min Aung Hlaing. Since then, the country's civilian population and armed political groups have been in conflict with the country's army.

Brian Nelson, Under Secretary of the Treasury Department's Terrorism and Economic Intelligence Branch, said in a statement on Friday, "Since taking power, Burma's military government has been oppressing the people of the country. The United States is committed to the peaceful and pro-democracy civilian population of Burma; And the United States will do whatever it can to stop these military atrocities.'

Nearly 4,000 people have been killed and millions displaced in the past two years of conflict since the military seized power in Myanmar.

The junta has been conducting airstrikes in various regions of Myanmar since 2021 to suppress the civilian anti-government movement and various anti-junta armed groups. The rate of these attacks is increasing day by day.

The statement further said that this ban is only an initial step. Those supplying fuel, arms and other logistics to Myanmar's military — will also be subject to sanctions at any time.

Reuters contacted the Myanmar embassy in Washington for comment, but an embassy official declined to comment.