Britain backs EU sanctions on 16 Syrians over chemical atrocities

BRITAIN has agreed to EU sanctions on 16 members of the Syrian regime who are suspected of using chemical weapons on civilians.

Senior military officers and scientists were among those hit with the sanctions, which follow reports of chlorine bombs and sarin nerve gas being used by Bashar al-assad, the Syrian president, on his own people.

“The UK condemns the use of chemical weapons wherever and by whomever they are used and we will continue to work closely with our international partners to hold perpetrators to account,” said Boris Johnson, the Foreign Secretary, yesterday. “The 16 individuals sanctioned include military officers and chemical specialists responsible for abhorrent chemical weapons attacks on innocent men, women and children.

“The UK helped push for these sanctions which send a clear signal to the Syrian regime that their barbaric actions have consequences.”

Mr Johnson will attend a Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels today, where he will formally agree to the sanctions with EU leaders.

The sanctions will freeze the financial assets of the 16 Syrians and restrict their ability to travel.

According to the United Nations (UN), there were at least three incidents in Syria in 2016 where chlorine was used by the regime. And in April 2017, around 100 people were killed and many others injured in Khan Sheikhoun following a sarin nerve gas attack.

The British government has said that it believes Assad was directly responsible for the attack in Khan Sheikhoun.

It came as the Syrian army said it had seized a string of oil wells in south west Raqqa province with help from Russian air strikes, as retreating Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (Isil) militants battled to defend their remaining territory in the country. State-owned Ikhbariyah television quoted a military source as saying the army had taken control of Wahab, al Fahd, Dbaysan, alqseer, Abu al Qatat and Abu Qatash oilfields and several villages.