U.S. Lawmakers Vote To Bar Trade With Russia's Arms Exporter

U.S. lawmakers in the House of Representatives have voted to bar the Pentagon from doing business with Russia's main arms export company.

The vote on July 19 aims to prevent the U.S. Defense Department from purchasing arms from Rosoboronexport, a major weapons supplier to the regime of President Bashar al-Assad.

Rosoborornexport has reportedly entered a deal with the U.S. military to supply helicopters to the U.S.-backed Afghan government.

The measure cannot come into effect until signed into law by President Barack Obama.

Lawmakers said the vote was a sign of frustration with Russia's continued support of Assad amid mounting bloodshed in Syria.

The vote came hours after Russia joined China in vetoing a United Nations Security Council resolution on threatening sanctions and extending the UN's observer mission in Syria.

Based on reporting by AP and AFP