Statement by M. Jean-Yves Le Drian, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs

I condemn with the greatest firmness the continued siege by the Syrian regime of the city of Douma, Eastern Ghouta, and the bombings that have caused a great number of civilian casualties in the last 24 hours, in flagrant violation of international humanitarian law.

I would like to express my extreme concern in the light of reports suggesting a further use of particularly violent chemical weapons and my outrage on seeing the images and information passed on by several organizations with witnesses on the ground.

France is working actively to verify the reality and nature of these strikes, in liaison with its allies and the relevant international organizations.

I must underline that the use of chemical weapons is a war crime and a breach of the international non-proliferation regime. As the President of the Republic has stated on several occasions, France will fulfil all its responsibilities in the fight against chemical weapons proliferation. It calls upon the United Nations Security Council to meet as soon as possible to examine the situation in Eastern Ghouta.