Assad Regime Bombards Damascus Suburbs with Chemical Weapons

Media Note

Syrian Coalition

Istanbul, Turkey

Augusts 21, 2013

The Syrian Coalition calls upon the Security Council of the United Nations to hold an emergency session on the latest Assad crimes against the Syrian people. We urge the Security Council to condemn Assad's crimes and issue a resolution under Chapter VII of the UN Charter pertaining to maintaining international peace and security to which Assad has undoubtedly become the biggest threat.

The Syrian Coalition emphasizes that the Security Council's failure to assume its responsibilities towards the unfolding situation in Syria would raise questions about its raison d'être. If the Security Council does not act firmly, it will lose all legitimacy.

Assad forces have committed clear massacres against hundreds of unarmed and defenseless civilians, shelling the eastern and western Ghouta areas with chemical agents. The Syrian Coalition calls upon the Friends of Syria to act immediately and not wait for the Russian veto to once again cover up Assad’s crimes. Countries who claim to be friends of Syria must come together to put an end to the Syrian tragedy by immediately restraining Assad’s crimes.

The Syrian Coalition calls on the United Nation’s chemical weapons investigation team to head immediately towards the locations in Ghouta where Assad forces have used chemical weapons. Reports by activists in Ghouta have documented the death of around 1100 people due to chemical weapons attacks. Hundreds more are suffering from symptoms of exposure to chemical agents. Many of the victims are women and children. The UN team must visit these places, which are only a few kilometers away from where the team is based in the capital Damascus. We ask that the UN team visit Ghouta within the next few hours, listen to people’s testimonies, and gather necessary evidence.

To fail to reach those areas is a failiure for the mission at its inception and another crime against the Syrian people.

Regime fighter jets bombed Joubar, Zamalka, Ain Terma (east of Damscus), as well as Moadamiya (also in the east). This occurred along with tank shelling and rocket shelling on civilian areas with chemical weapons. Field hospitals and emergency care points are overwhelmed with injured civilians. These difficult situations continue as many areas remain under siege, have limited medical supplies and require an immediate humanitarian intervention.

The Assad regime has chosen, with all brazenness and audacity, to hit eastern Ghouta with chemical weapons, in conjunction with the start of the UN chemical weapons inspection team's mission. This attempt to confuse the situation must not take away from the significance of the inspection team’s mission.

The chemical weapon attack occurred alongside a regime advance by tanks towards Joubar and Moadamiya. This is the initial step of a plan to retake control of the liberated eastern Ghouta, which puts 1.6 million civilians at risk after a year of an ever worsening siege.

Free people and free governments of the world, international positions towards the Assad regime are relaxed, despite the severity of Assad's crimes. These positions betray Syrian women and children, just as they betray the revolution for freedom. For two and half years, Syrians continue to die at the hands of an unjust tyrant who kills humans, animals and trees alike. Silence is betrayal.

On behalf of the free Syrian people, the Syrian Coalition calls upon the world to act to put a stop to the crimes of the Assad regime and to end the inhumane siege on Syrian villages and cities.

We ask for Mercy for our martyrs, health for our wounded, and freedom for our detainees.

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