Date: Aug 29, 2019 Source: The Daily Star US warns businesses against taking part in Damascus fair Associated Press BEIRUT: The United States warned businesses against taking part in an annual trade fair in the Syrian capital opening Wednesday, saying participants would expose themselves to the possibility of U.S. sanctions. Russia, a key backer of Syrian President Bashar Assad, shot back, accusing the U.S. of undermining the reconstruction of Syria. In a statement posted on Twitter, the U.S. Embassy in Syria, which closed the mission early on in the country's eight-year civil war, said it has received reports that some regional businessmen or chambers of commerce plan to participate in the Damascus fair. "We reiterate our warning that anyone doing business with the Assad regime or its associates is exposing themselves to the possibility of U.S. sanctions," it said. It says it's "unacceptable and inappropriate" for businesses and individuals to participate, particularly at a time when Assad's government, aided by allies Russia and Iran "are attacking innocent civilians." The Damascus International Fairgrounds, located near the city's international airport, is hosting the fair. Before the war started in 2011, the exhibition was a high-profile event, attracting major investors and celebrities from around the Arab world who performed to packed audiences on opening night. The event was halted in 2011 as the country descended into conflict and rebels seized control of the eastern suburbs of Damascus, near the fairgrounds. The fair resumed in 2017 for the first time since war broke out, an event hailed by officials as a victory and a sign of renewed confidence after rebels were ejected from the area around the capital following years-long fighting. But participation has been largely confined to Syrian companies, followed by Lebanese and Iranian exhibitors and very few Russian, largely because of the challenges posed by international sanctions and the lack of a political solution to the conflict. Sanctions by the U.S. have been in place since 2011 but were tightened by the Trump administration in the past year.