HRW: Strong evidence that Assad regime used chemical weapons

Syrian government helicopters dropped barrel bombs embedded with cylinders of chlorine gas on three towns in Northern Syria in mid-April, Human Rights Watch said today.

The attacks killed at least 11 people and resulted in symptoms consistent with exposure to chlorine in nearly 500, doctors who treated victims told HRW.

The group said evidence they have suggests the attacks used an industrial chemical as a weapon. On April 29, the director-general of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) announced a new mission to establish facts surrounding allegations of use of chlorine in Syria. The group said the Syrian government agreed to accept this mission and to provide security in areas under its control.

“Syria’s apparent use of chlorine gas as a weapon – not to mention the targeting of civilians – is a plain violation of international law,” Nadim Houry, deputy Middle East and North Africa director at HRW, said. “This is one more reason for the UN Security Council to refer the situation in Syria to the International Criminal Court.”

HRW said it interviewed 10 witnesses, including five medical personnels; saw video footage of the attacks and photographs of the remnants which strongly suggest government forces dropped barrel bombs containing embedded chlorine gas cylinders in attacks from April 11 to 21 on three towns in northwestern Syria.

Witnesses told HRW that they saw a helicopter dropping a barrel bomb or heard a helicopter immediately prior to an explosion, followed immediately by a peculiar odour. The witnesses described the clinical signs and symptoms of exposure to a choking agent by victims.

Syria’s government has accused rebels groups of possessing chlorine gas and blamed them for the attacks on Keferzita. Media reports suggest that Al-Nusra Front has access to chlorine gas, however only the Assad regime has access to helicopters.

“As long as the Security Council fails to penalise Syria for its flagrant violations of the Chemical Weapons Convention, these inherently indiscriminate and egregious attacks will continue,” Houry said. “The international community urgently needs to take firm collective action if it is to prevent and suppress further violations.”