The UN Security Council will add the Al-Qaeda-linked Syrian militants Al-Nusra Front to its sanctions blacklist next week, diplomats said Friday.
Following a move by France and Britain, the Islamist group, which has become one of the most feared fighting forces in Syria’s two-year-old conflict, will be subject to a global asset freeze from Tuesday, the diplomats told AFP.
A pledge of allegiance by Al-Nusra’s chief Abu Mohammed al-Jawlani to Al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri has caused divisions among the rebel groups battling President Bashar al-Assad.
The Assad government asked last month for the UN Security Council to blacklist Al-Nusra, but this was blocked by Britain and France, which do not recognize the Damascus government.
Britain and France made a separate application to the council’s Al-Qaeda sanctions committee, which should become valid on Tuesday.