The sanctions now mark a dramatic escalation in Washington’s standoff with the world’s war crimes court, targeting judges and prosecutors who dared to greenlight cases against U.S. troops and Israeli leaders.

The Trump administration is ramping up pressure on the International Criminal Court for pursuing investigations into U.S. and Israeli officials for alleged war crimes.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -President Donald Trump's administration on Wednesday imposed sanctions on two judges and two prosecutors at the International Criminal Court, as Washington kept up its pressure on the war tribunal over its targeting of Israeli leaders.