US plans to announce new sanctions against Syria

US Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin said on Friday the United States would soon announce new sanctions against Syria after the Syrian government allegedly used chemical weapons early this week. (Photo: cloudbuilding/ Flickr)

PALM BEACH–US Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin said on Friday the United States would soon announce new sanctions against Syria after the Syrian government allegedly used chemical weapons early this week.

“We will be announcing additional sanctions on Syria as part of our ongoing effort to stop this kind of activity,” said Mnuchin here at a briefing, calling the sanctions forthcoming while giving no further details.

“We view sanctions as being a very important tool,” said Mnuchin. “These sanctions are very important and we will use them to the maximum effect.”

A total of 59 Tomahawk cruise missiles were launched from US destroyers USS Porter and USS Ross in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea Thursday night, and Syrian aircraft, hardened aircraft shelters, fuel points, air defense systems, and radars were targeted, according to the Pentagon.

The assault, ordered by US President Donald Trump, was the first direct US assault on the army of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad since the Syrian crisis began six years ago.

Also speaking at the same briefing, US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said future actions would be guided by Syrian response to the strike.

Meanwhile, the Russian government has condemned missile strikes by the US on a Syrian airbase, calling Washington’s move as an “aggression against sovereign state in violation of international law”.