UK ‘welcomes’ sanctions on Syria chemical attack perpetrators

Britain yesterday welcomed US sanctions against individuals with alleged connections to the use of chemical weapons in Syria.

In a statement, Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said:

Sanctions send a clear signal that actions have consequences and seek to deter others from a similar act of barbarism. We welcome the role sanctions play in increasing pressure on the Syrian regime to turn away from its military campaign.

Yesterday, the US announced that it was imposing “sweeping sanctions” on Syrian chemical weapons experts and others in response to the chemical attack that killed nearly 100 civilians earlier this month.

The sanctions imposed by the Treasury Department will freeze the US assets of 271 employees of the Syrian Scientific Studies and Research Centre (SSRC). It also ordered that American individuals and businesses be blocked from dealing with them.

In his comments, Johnson added that Britain “will continue [our] efforts to hold accountable those responsible for chemical attacks, including through the UN and EU, and to energise international support for the UN-led political process. Only a political settlement will bring an end to the war in Syria.”