U.S. HITS SYRIA WITH SANCTIONS OVER CHEMICAL WEAPONS ATTACK

Treasury secretary vows to "relentlessly pursue" and "shut down" financial networks

According to U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, U.S. companies are now barred from doing business with 271 employees of a Syrian government agency said to be responsible for the development of chemical weapons. The targets, deemed “highly educated” members of Syria’s Scientific Studies and Research Center (SSRC), will also have any potential assets held abroad frozen by U.S. banks.

The more than 200 employees have been described as having “expertise in chemistry and related disciplines and/or have worked in support of SSRC’s chemical weapons program since at least 2012.”

During a conference call with reporters, Mnuchin vowed to “relentlessly pursue” any financial networks linked to the alleged continuation of Syria’s chemical weapons program.

“We take Syria’s disregard for innocent human life very seriously, and will relentlessly pursue and shut down the financial networks of all individuals involved with the production of chemical weapons used to commit these atrocities,” Mnuchin said.

Mnuchin further asserted that the sanctions would “hold the Assad regime accountable for its unacceptable behavior.”

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