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White House explains goal of new us 'largest ever' sanctions against Syria

24 April 2017 20:57 (UTC +04:00)

One of the goals of the new sanctions issued by the US Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) against 271 individuals in Syria is to show President Bashar Assad's government that its actions are not taken lightly by the United States, White House spokesman Sean Spicer said in a briefing on Monday, APA reports quoting sputniknews.

arlier on Monday, the US Treasury Department Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned 271 employees of Syria’s Scientific Studies and Research Center, the agency allegedly responsible for producing chemical weapons.

The US will pursue anyone connected to the use of chemical weapons in Syria and shut down their financial networks, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said commenting on the move, adding that the sanctions are "largest ever". Mnuchin also said Washington was sending a strong message to the Syrian government and President Bashar Assad over the April 4 reported chemical weapons attack on civilians in Khan Sheikhoun, for which the United States blames Damascus despite lack of proof.