WASHINGTON (AP) — The Treasury Department is targeting 11 companies and individuals suspected of providing energy products the Syrian government of Bashar Assad (bah-SHAR' AH'-sahd) is using in the conflict there.

Treasury says many of those targeted are front companies the Syrian government has used to evade U.S. and European Union sanctions.

Monday's action freezes any assets the entities have in U.S. jurisdiction and prohibits Americans from doing business with them.

Seven companies and four individuals associated with those companies were sanctioned.