U.N. Watchdog Confirms Syria Chlorine Attack, Mustard Gas Use

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The U.N. chemical weapons watchdog Friday confirmed with "utmost confidence" that mustard gas was used in Syria in August during fighting between rebels and jihadists and "likely" killed a child.

Experts from the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons also found toxic chemicals, including chlorine, were likely used as a weapon in an attack in Idlib province in March, the OPCW said in statement.

Three reports have been sent by the head of the OPCW to the body's 192 members after separate missions to investigate incidents in Syria.

In one attack in the town of Marea in Aleppo province on August 21, the OPCW team investigated after "a non-state actor had allegedly used a chemical weapon."

They collected samples and "interviewed two individuals affected by exposure" as well as the doctors that treated them.

"In this case, the team was able to confirm with utmost confidence that at least two people were exposed to sulfur mustard, and that it is very likely that the effects of this chemical weapon resulted in the death of an infant," the OPCW statement said.

OPCW sources told AFP late Thursday investigators had for the first time in the four-year war confirmed the use of deadly mustard gas in Syria.

First used in battle in World War I, the gas causes the skin to break out in painful blisters, irritates eyes and causes eyelids to swell up, temporarily blinding its victims.

Internal and external haemorrhaging then results and destroys the lungs.

While the OPCW's mandate is not to apportion blame, activists on Friday accused militants from the Islamic State group of using the gas as part of its sustained campaign to capture Marea.

Doctors Without Borders (MSF), which operated a nearby field clinic, treated four members of a single family for "symptoms of exposure to chemical agents" after the Marea attack.

Residents told MSF they saw a "yellow gas" when a mortar round hit their house.

- New chlorine attack -

In a separate investigation, OPCW experts probed allegations that toxic chemicals were unleashed in March in northwestern Idlib.

The team "concluded that the alleged incidents likely involved the use of one or more toxic chemicals – including chlorine – as a weapon."

Human Rights Watch had accused the regime of Syrian President Bashar Assad of dropping barrels filled with chlorine in the rebel-held area during six attacks from March 16 to 31.

However, in a third incident in which the Syrian government said its soldiers had been exposed to toxic chemicals in Jobar on the eastern edge of Damascus on August 29, the OPCW "could not confidently determine that a chemical was used as a weapon."

In September 2014, the OPCW confirmed that chlorine was used as a chemical weapon "systematically and repeatedly" in villages in northern Syria earlier in the year. It cited attacks in the villages of Talmanes, al-Tamana and Kafr Zeita.

Now a special OPCW mission has been set up to investigate who is behind the deadly gas attacks.

Under a deal hammered out in 2013 between Russia and the United States following a sarin gas attack on the outskirts of Damascus in which hundreds died, the regime pledged to hand over all its toxic weapons to the OPCW for destruction.

Assad's government had had stockpiles of more than 19 tons of mustard gas.

But activists said IS had probably managed to get hold of the gas smuggling it via Turkey or Iraq.

Comments 9
Thumb EagleDawn 06 November 2015, 19:31

According to mowaten of iran Assad does not use barrel bombs:

"_mowaten_
i dont think it's actual "barrels", more like barrel-shaped maybe.. and the "barrel bomb" name was coined by rebels for added mediatic effect"

but according to the Russian Ambassador, Assad does use Barrel bombs:

أعلن السفير الروسي لدى الأمم المتحدة، فيتالي تشوركين، أن نظام الأسد توقف عن القصف بالبراميل المتفجرة إثر دعوات متكررة من موسكو بشكل خاص لوقف استخدامها لتجنب سقوط ضحايا مدنيين.

وقال تشوركين إنه تبعا لهذا التطور لم يعد هناك من داع لأن يناقش مجلس الأمن مشروع قرار يهدد بفرض عقوبات على دمشق بسبب استخدامها هذه البراميل.

وكان بشار الأسد أكد في أكثر من مقابلة تلفزيونية أن قواته لا تستهدف المدنيين بالبراميل المتفجرة في تناقض واضح مع تصريحات السفير الروسي.
http://www.alarabiya.net/ar/arab-and-world/syria/2015/10/31/روسيا-النظام-السوري-أوقف-القصف-بالبراميل-المتفجرة.html

Thumb janoubi 06 November 2015, 19:48

The russians use cluster bombs instead

Thumb EagleDawn 06 November 2015, 20:14

yes janoubi dear, as flamethrower always said " this is war, and in wars people die, including women and children"....

As to the cluster bombs allegedly used by the USA in Syria, mowaten and flamethrower and their 60 other 'accounts' always maintained the USA air strikes are ineffective and are for show purposes only. U.S cluster bombs are not as good as Russian cluster bombs;)

Thumb EagleDawn 06 November 2015, 20:17

southern, please direct me to where in the article did the "investigators"blame the rebels for using cluster bombs? please?

Default-user-icon illegitimate & illiterate.southern (Guest) 06 November 2015, 19:47

Once again, you pose questions to the common reader leaving him or her wondering what the outcome will be. You have a style that is full of suspense which attracts many readers to wait for your comments.

Thank you for being you Southern, and of course Bravo.

Thumb EagleDawn 06 November 2015, 20:19

southern, did it ever occur to you why the ISIS never used chemical weapons against your terror party? are they not enemies?

Missing peace 06 November 2015, 20:32

southern: as you are so keen on listing war crimes by islamists could you also tell us the list of war crimes done by your president?

or is it too sensitive for your propaganda?

Missing peace 06 November 2015, 21:46

both sides are butchers, no pb with that...

Missing humble 06 November 2015, 20:41

The Butcher = greatest criminal
The others are barbarians