France Freezes Assets of 3 People, 9 Firms Over Assad’s Chemical Weapons

A journalist looks on during a media tour of a damaged house where Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) inspectors are belived to have visited in Douma near Damascus, Syria April 23, 2018. Reuters/ Ali Hashisho

PARIS–France said on Friday it had frozen the assets of three people nine companies suspected of involvement in the development of chemical weapons in Syria.

In a joint statement, Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire and Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said the move was aimed at cracking down on networks suspected of helping Syria’s Scientific Studies and Research Center.