Chlorine attacks kill 13 in Syria

Thirteen people including six children were killed and dozens were injured in an alleged chlorine bomb attack carried out by the Syrian regime on north-western Syrian province of Idlib late on Monday, opposition groups and activists claimed.

The Syrian Revolution General Commission said in a statement released yesterday that regime airstrikes targeted opposition-controlled villages of Sermin and Qminas.

“A family of six people, including three children, chocked to death because of the toxic chlorine gas used in Syrian regime airstrikes on Sermin village on Monday evening,” the commission said.

The regime’s airplanes targeted several residential buildings which led to their collapse while rescue teams continue to search for missing people under the rubble.

The statement described the attack as a “massacre” and warned the death toll may rise because of the lack of medical aid.

Activists published a video on social networking sites purports to show victims of the attack and scores of people receiving first aid at hospitals.

The attack comes as the Syrian regime continues bombing the city of Duma causing the deaths of dozens.

According to activists two children were killed and tens of civilians were injured by air and artillery bombardment against residential neighbourhoods in Damascus.

The city has been under attack for three consecutive days which led to the killing of 60 civilians, mostly women and children, they said.

Regime helicopters are reported to have dropped eight explosive barrels on the city of Daria, west of Damascus, while Masar Press reported two people were killed and a several injured in similar attacks on the town of Hamourya near Damascus.