US, France sanction Syria chemical program suppliers

WASHINGTON - 26 July 2018: The United States has sanctioned eight people and five entities that helped form key parts of a procurement network for Syria's chemical weapons program, the Daily Mail quoted US officials as saying on Wednesday.

The move, which comes as part of a coordinated action with France, targets the procurement network for Syria's Scientific Studies and Research Center (SSRC), which the US Treasury Department said is the agency responsible for developing chemical weapons.

Among the entities targeted by Treasury sanctions are a Lebanon-based company called Electronics Katrangi Trading, which "has provided, or attempted to provide, financial, material, technological, or other support for, or goods or services in support of, the SSRC," Sigal Mandelker, Treasury's under secretary for terrorism and financial intelligence, said in a statement.

The sanctions also target Lebanon-based Top Technologies SARL, which specializes in the import and export of electronic components.