US announces 'sweeping' sanctions on Syrian scientists for chemical attack
WASHINGTON _ Following up on a limited U.S. military strike against Syria, the Trump administration on Monday announced new "sweeping" sanctions on the Syrian government agency it blames for producing chemicals used in a deadly attack on Syrian civilians earlier this month.
The announcement names 271 members of the Syrian Scientific Studies and Research Center in what the Treasury Department called one of its largest sanctions actions in history.
It said the Syrian agency was responsible for developing and producing "nonconventional weapons and the means to deliver them."
"These sweeping sanctions target the scientific support center for Syrian dictator Bashar Assad's horrific chemical weapons attack on innocent civilian men, women and children," the department said in a statement.
Later, appearing at a White House press briefing, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin amplified the U.S. will to punish users of chemical weapons.
_Tribune Washington Bureau
