US sanctions Syrian scientists after chemical attack

The US Treasury has announced sanctions against 271 employees of the Syrian government agency that the United States believes is responsible for developing chemical weapons like those used in an attack on dozens of civilians in the country earlier this month.

The 271 employees of Syria’s Scientific Studies and Research Center have "expertise in chemistry and related disciplines and/or have worked in support of [the center's] chemical weapons program since at least 2012," the Treasury Department said in a statement. Some of the 271 sanctioned had worked in support of the agency's chemical weapons program for five years or more, the department said.

"These sweeping sanctions target the scientific support center for Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad’s horrific chemical weapons attack on innocent civilian men, women, and children," US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said.