The EU on Monday (March 19th) sanctioned four senior Syrian officials over the use of chemical weapons against civilians, AFP reported.

EU foreign ministers hit a high-ranking military official and three scientists working for the Syrian Scientific Studies and Research Centre (SSRC) with travel bans and asset freezes.

The move brings to 261 the number of regime figures punished by the bloc over the course of the seven-year conflict.

"The EU added these four persons for their role in the development and use of chemical weapons against the civilian population, in line with the EU's policy to fight the proliferation and use of chemical weapons," said a statement issued after ministers agreed the measures in Brussels.

"These persons include a high-ranking military official and three scientists working at the Scientific Studies and Research Centre."

Regime forces have been repeatedly accused of using chlorine in recent weeks during their fierce air and ground assault to retake Eastern Ghouta, near Damascus, from opposition forces.