Nerve gas used in Syria attack
UK, US point finger at Assad regime
Khan Sheikhun,
Syria, April 5: Some victims of a suspected chemical attack in Syria have symptoms consistent with exposure to a category of chemicals that includes nerve agents, the World Health Organisation said on Wednesday.
The UN health agency said the attack in Idlib province Tuesday, which killed at least 75 civilians, appeared to have involved chemical weapons, pointing to the “apparent lack of external injuries reported in cases showing a rapid onset of similar symptoms, including acute respiratory distress as the main cause of death.”
The US has warned that it could take unilateral action if the UN fails to respond. “When the United Nations consistently fails in its duty to act collectively, there are times in the life of states that we are compelled to take our own action,” US ambassador Nikki Haley said.
“If Russia has the influence in Syria that it claims to have, we need to see them use it,” she said. “We need to see them put an end to these horrific acts.”
The warning came during an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council called by France and Britain after the attack in the early hours on Tuesday on a rebel-held town in Idlib province.
Ms Haley lashed out at Russia for failing to rein in its ally Syria, standing in the council chamber to hold up photographs of victims -- one showing a young child lying lifeless, a mask covering his face. “How many more children have to die before Russia cares?” she asked.
Moscow, which launched a military intervention in 2015 in support of Assad’s forces, said the deaths were caused when a Syrian air strike hit a “terrorist warehouse” used for making bombs containing “toxic substances”. It said it would continue its military campaign in support of government forces. Syria’s army has denied any use of chemical weapons, saying it “has never used them, any time, anywhere, and will not do so in the future.” Its denials have done little to quiet international condemnation, with UN chief Antonio Guterres on Wednesday saying the “horrific events” showed that “war crimes are going on in Syria”.
Others blamed Damascus more directly for the attack, including UK foreign secretary Boris Johnson, who said “all the evidence I have seen suggests this was the Assad regime.”
EU president Donald Tusk said Assad’s government bore “primary responsibility for the atrocities,” adding “all those who support the regime share the moral and political responsibility.”
Washington also accused Assad’s government of responsibility, but drew criticism from Syria’s opposition, which said an apparent softening of the US line on the embattled leader had emboldened him.
Iran, a key Assad ally, condemned “all use of chemical weapons” in Syria, but suggested the blame for the attack may lie with “terrorist groups”.