The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) on Monday, April 12, after an investigation, established that the Syrian Air Force used chlorine, a chemical weapon, in an attack in the city of Saraqueb in 2018.
The OPCW investigative team “Concludes that units of the Syrian Arab Air Force used chemical weapons in Saraqeb on February 4, 2018”, the organization said in a statement. She explains that she carried out an in-depth investigation with, in particular, interviews with witnesses to the scene, analyzes of samples collected at the scene of the attack or the study of satellite images.
Responsible for identifying the perpetrators of chemical attacks, the OPCW’s Identification and Investigation Team (IIT), based in The Hague, determined “That there are reasonable grounds to believe” that “At approximately 9:22 p.m. on February 4, 2018, a military helicopter of the Syrian Air Force, under the control of the Tigre forces, dropped at least one cylinder on the eastern part of Saraqueb. The cylinder ruptured and released chlorine over a large area, affecting twelve people ”, details the report.
OPCW investigators interviewed 30 witnesses, analyzed samples taken at the scene, examined symptoms reported by victims and medical staff, as well as satellite images to reach their conclusions. Symptoms “Included shortness of breath, skin irritation, chest pain and cough”, according to the report. Investigators asserted ” to regret “ that the Syrian regime denied them access to the very site of the attack, despite repeated requests.
The ITT published its first report a year ago, in which it established that Bashar Al-Assad’s air force dropped bombs containing sarin and chlorine in 2017 in Latamne, in the north. of Syria, thus violating the Chemical Weapons Convention.
Orders from above
Despite strong objections from Syria and its allies, including Moscow, a majority of OPCW member states in 2018 authorized the organization to designate the perpetrator of a chemical attack and not just document the use of such a weapon. The OPCW had already confirmed, in May 2018, that chlorine had been used in Saraqueb but had not then determined which party to the conflict had used it.
This time, its investigators believe that the orders must have come from senior officials and that there was no indication that “Solitary elements or individuals” are at the origin.
“The IIT has obtained information from various sources suggesting that for chemical weapons to be used in the manner described above, orders would be required.”, explains the full report.
Although there is no “Specific chain of command” identified, the Syrian military general command seems to have “Delegated decisions on the use of chlorine to commanders at the operational level”, add the investigators.
Denial of Damascus
The Syrian government denies any involvement in chemical attacks, saying it has handed over all of its chemical weapons stockpiles under international supervision under a deal reached in 2013.
OPCW member states will vote later this month on the possibility of imposing sanctions on Syria, which could see its right to vote in the organization suspended if the country does not take action.
The OPCW had previously urged Syria to declare all remaining chemical weapons it has, including sarin and chlorine, with Western powers expressing concern that Damascus has not destroyed all of them.
The organization’s chief executive, Fernando Arias, said in March that there were still gaps and inconsistencies in the reports Syria sent to the OPCW.
According to the UN, Damascus has still not answered 19 questions asked over the years about facilities that could have been used in the production or stockpiling of chemical weapons.
