Atrocities in Syria

SIR – The use of chemical weapons is universally recognised as illegal, yet there is photographic evidence that Bashar al-assad’s regime has used them once again in Syria (report, April 9), presumably with the backing of Russia and Iran.

These countries have denied involvement, as they do whenever they are implicated, and have stated that military intervention from the West is unacceptable. Are they the only countries that can bomb with impunity citizens they disagree with?

Diss, Norfolk

SIR – The condemnation from the international community of the latest gas attack in Syria is mere rhetoric.

As you point out (report, April 9): “The [Syrian] regime is thought to have used chemicals more than 100 times since 2013.” Yet still the world watches and waits, watches and waits.

Wigton, Cumbria

SIR – If Assad succeeds in keeping hold of Syria, is the rest of the world going to suck up to him solely because of the oil there. Or will he be a pariah?

Cirencester, Gloucestershire