UN Report Proves Assad Regime Used Chemical Weapons against Civilians

Press Statement Original in arabic

Syrian Coalition

Media Office

August 25, 2016

A report published on Wednesday by the United Nations concluded that the Assad regime carried out two chemical attacks in Syria during 2014 and 2015.

The team from the UN and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) said the Assad regime has used chlorine gas in two attacks in Idlib province in northwestern Syria.

The Assad regime was found to be behind the attacks in the towns of Talmenes on April 21, 2014 and Sarmin on March 16, 2015 in violation of UN Security Council resolutions 2118 (2013) and 2209 (2015).

In both instances, Syrian air force helicopters dropped 'a device' on houses that was followed by the 'release of a toxic substance', which in the case of Sarmin matched 'the characteristics of chlorine.' At least six civilians were killed and many more injured in the two attacks.

Although the two attacks took place during 2014 and 2015, multiple reports indicated that the Assad regime has repeatedly used chemical weapons, including sarin and chlorine, in many attacks across Syria since the revolution started in 2011. Over 1,500 civilians were killed and thousands more injured in these attacks.

The Syrian Coalition calls for holding those responsible for these crimes to account. The latest UN report highlights the importance for bringing to light massacres committed by the Assad regime against civilians in Syria using chemical weapons and other prohibited weapons.

The Syrian Coalition repeats its call for referring the chemical weapons dossier in Syria to the International Criminal Court (ICC) to determine those who ordered and carried out these attacks so as to make sure they are not repeated.

Letting criminals commit such horrible crimes with impunity is a dark stain on the international community and humanity as a whole. By letting perpetrators of such heinous crimes off the hook, the international community risks creating a world where war crimes are carried out and internationally banned weapons are used with criminals not ever having to worry about the consequences of their actions; it poses a real threat to international peace and security.

May our wounded recover, our detainees be free, and our fallen heroes rest in peace.

Long live Syria and its people, free and with honor.