Washington (CNN) The United States and France have taken joint action to sanction individuals and entities connected with Syria's chemical weapons program, the Treasury Department announced in a statement Wednesday.

"Syria's horrific use of chemical weapons, including attacks against innocent women and children, remains deeply embedded in our minds," Sigal Mandelker, the Undersecretary of Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, said in the statement. "Today, we are continuing our campaign to stop the Assad regime's ruthless attacks by targeting the procurement networks that have supported its chemical weapons program."

The US action will affect five entities and eight individuals the government says represent "key components of a vast network procuring electronics on behalf of Syria's Scientific Studies and Research Center (SSRC), the agency responsible for the development of Syria's chemical weapons."

Those affected will no longer have access to property and interests subject to US jurisdiction, including US financial institutions.

On Sunday, France's government extended a similar freeze on 24 entities and individuals from the same network, the Treasury Department said.

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