Inquiry Blames Syrian Military for Another Chlorine Gas Attack

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/10/22/world/middleeast/syria-chemical-weapons-chlorine.html

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UNITED NATIONS — An international inquiry has found that Syrian government forces were responsible for a third toxic gas attack, according to a confidential report submitted to the United Nations Security Council on Friday. The finding sets the stage for a showdown between Russia and Western members of the Council over how to respond.

The fourth report from the 13-month inquiry by the United Nations and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, the global chemical weapons watchdog, blamed Syrian government forces for a toxic gas attack in Qminas in Idlib Province on March 16, 2015.

The third report by the inquiry in August blamed the Syrian government for two chlorine attacks — in Talmenes on April 21, 2014, and in Sarmeen on March 16, 2015 — and it said that Islamic State militants had used a mustard agent.

The resulting dispute among the five veto-wielding powers on the Council will most likely pit Russia and China against the United States, Britain and France over how those responsible should be held accountable.

After the submission of the third report, Russia, which supports the Syrian government, said the conclusions could not be used to impose United Nations sanctions.

The report submitted on Friday said that Syrian government forces had used helicopters to drop barrel bombs, which then released chlorine gas. It found that those helicopter flights had originated from two bases where the 253 and 255 Squadrons, belonging to the 63rd Helicopter Brigade, were based.

It added that the 618 Squadron, with navy helicopters, was also at one of the bases.

The investigators said they “could not confirm the names of the individuals who had command and control of the helicopter squadrons at the time.”

But the report added that those with “effective control” in the military units “must be held accountable.”

The report confirmed a Reuters report in September that the inquiry had identified the 253 and 255 Squadrons.

The inquiry focused on nine attacks in seven areas of Syria where a separate fact-finding investigation by the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons had already determined that chemical weapons had probably been used. Eight of the attacks investigated involved the use of chlorine. The inquiry was unable to reach a conclusion in five cases.

Chlorine’s use as a weapon is prohibited under the 1997 Chemical Weapons Convention, which Syria joined in 2013. If inhaled, chlorine gas turns into hydrochloric acid in the lungs and can kill by burning the lungs and drowning victims in the resulting body fluids.

Syria agreed to destroy its chemical weapons in 2013 under a deal brokered by Russia and the United States. The Security Council backed that deal with a resolution that said that in the event of noncompliance, “including unauthorized transfer of chemical weapons, or any use of chemical weapons by anyone” in Syria, it would impose measures under Chapter 7 of the United Nations Charter.

Chapter 7 deals with sanctions and the authorization of military force by the Council. The body would need to adopt another resolution to impose targeted sanctions — a travel ban and asset freeze — on people or entities linked to the attacks.