WASHINGTON, Sept. 6 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. State Department on Thursday imposed financial sanctions on four individuals and five entities, accusing them of having facilitated weapons or fuel transfers, or provided other financial or material support, to the Assad government in Syria.

According to a statement released by the State Department, the sanctioned individuals were Syrian and Lebanese nationals, and the targeted entities included companies based in Syria, Lebanon and the United Arab Emirates.

"Today's action shows that the United States will continue to take concrete and forceful action to cut off material support to the Assad regime and its supporters. The United States will continue to use all available mechanisms to isolate the Assad regime," read the statement.

In a separate statement, the U.S. Department of the Treasury said the targeted were involved in transactions with the Assad government and with the ISIS, noting the fact that the Idlib province has been encircled by the government forces.

All of the sanctioned individuals' and entities' assets within the U.S. jurisdiction would be blocked, and U.S. individuals and entities would be generally prohibited from engaging in transactions with them.

Since earlier this year, the Syrian rebels were driven out of key areas in the capital Damascus, the central province of Homs and the southern region. The government's army has been amassing forces and military gear around Idlib in recent weeks, as a major battle against the rebels in Syria looms.