UNSC extends inquiry into Syria toxic gas attacks

The UN Security Council agreed yesterday evening to extend the international inquiry to determine those responsible for the chemical weapons attacks in Syria, paving the way to a face off on how to punish them.

The Security Council, consisting of 15 members, approved the decision to extend the inquiry for one year, which was formulated by the US unanimously.

The inquiry by the UN and Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) found that the Syrian regime forces are responsible for three chlorine gas attacks while Daesh had used mustard gas.

France, Britain, the US, and other Security Council members hope to begin negotiations regarding the draft resolution in order to punish those responsible for the attacks, which will probably be in the form of sanctions imposed by the UN.

United States Ambassador to the United Nations, Samantha Power, said: “The Joint Investigative Mechanism (JIM) is a vital tool for fighting impunity, an independent group of experts with the tools to tell us who is using chemical weapons in Syria.”

“There is credible evidence of many more chemical weapons attacks by the Assad regime.”

However, Russia, an ally of Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad, has said that the inquiry’s findings cannot be used to take action at the UN Security Council and that the Syrian government should investigate the accusations.

The OCPW executive committee voted last week to condemn the use of banned toxic agents by the Syrian government and Daesh.