Washington, D.C. – House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Ed Royce (R-CA) issued the following statement in response to reports that a chemical attack in Syria’s opposition-held territory has killed dozens, including children:

“The images and video we are seeing from Syria today are sickening.  Some show children suffocating.  Others document scores of dead civilians in the streets, and the rubble of a hospital bombed shortly after the chemical attack. 

“Sadly, this grisly attack is no isolated incident.  It is the third suspected chemical attack carried out by Assad and his enablers over the past week.  With more than 480,000 people killed by the regime, and 14 million driven from their homes, it is clear there is no hope for real peace in Syria until Assad is held accountable.”

NOTE: Last month, Chairman Royce joined Ranking Member Eliot Engel (D-NY) in reintroducing the “Caesar Syrian Civilian Protection Act” to impose sanctions on supporters of the Assad regime, encourage negotiations to end ongoing atrocities and support prosecution of war criminals.

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