The United States has imposed sanctions on six Syrian government officials and a Russian bank over its transactions with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. The sanctions came as Secretary of State John Kerry met with Syrian National Coalition President Ahmad Jarba in Washington. Jarba has asked the United States to supply heavy weapons to rebels fighting the Assad regime. He spoke to reporters after the meeting.

Ahmad Jarba: “We met with Secretary Kerry, and it was a positive meeting. And now we will meet with other officials in Congress and at the White House. The positive spirit was clear in this meeting. God willing, I think it will be fruitful for the Syrian people. And it’s clear there is wide U.S. interest in this visit, and the Syrian people are looking to all the American leaders and American friends. The Syrian people are looking to the most important superpower in the world to help us lift the suffering and end the humanitarian crisis that is affecting the Syrian people.”

Meanwhile in Syria, rebels set off an explosion that leveled a hotel where government soldiers were staying in the northern city of Aleppo.