WASHINGTON- The U.S. Treasury Department on Wednesday imposed fresh Syria-related sanctions on several individuals and entities, according to the Treasury's website, increasing pressure on President Bashar al-Assad's government.

The United States blacklisted eight individuals and 10 entities in separate counterterrorism and Syria-related actions taken on Wednesday, including branches of the Syrian general and military intelligence, according to the website.

(Reporting by Daphne Psaledakis and Tim Ahmann; editing by Jonathan Oatis) ((Daphne.Psaledakis@thomsonreuters.com;))