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Rights Group Says Syria Used Chlorine Gas in Attacks French Say Assad’s Forces Used Chlorine Gas 14 Times
(about 2 hours later)
LONDON — A prominent human rights group said on Tuesday that there were strong indications that Syrian forces had dropped barrels “embedded with cylinders of chlorine gas” via helicopters on three towns in the north of the country in mid-April. WASHINGTON — France’s foreign minister said Tuesday there were strong indications that the Syrian government had carried out attacks using chemical agents, especially chlorine, as many as 14 times in recent months, despite its promise to renounce such weapons in joining the global treaty banning them last year.
The assertion, by Human Rights Watch, compounded the concern already stirred by reports on the use of chlorine gas by Syrian forces in the civil war, and have overshadowed the Syrian government’s pledge to rid itself of chemical weapons by the end of next month. The minister, Laurent Fabius, who met here Tuesday morning with Secretary of State John Kerry, also said that he regretted that the Obama administration had decided against using force to enforce its “red line” after a chemical weapons attack in Damascus last Aug. 21 that Western nations, led by the United States, blamed on forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad.
Unconfirmed accounts about the use of chlorine have been circulating since April when opposition activists said government helicopters dropped improvised bombs on the northern village of Kfar Zeita. France, Mr. Fabius indicated, had been prepared to use force as part of an American-led coalition, but did not want to act alone. Had such a military strike been carried out, Mr. Fabius said, “we feel that it would have changed many things.”
Chlorine, a common industrial chemical with many uses, was one of the original chemical weapons, first introduced by Germany during World War I. Although chlorine is not on the list of agents banned under the Chemical Weapons Convention, which Syria signed last year, military use of any chemical is a violation of the treaty His assertions about chlorine weapons came as Human Rights Watch issued a report corroborating unconfirmed accounts that the chemical had been used at least three times in recent weeks, in barrel bombs dropped by Syrian military helicopters.
Mr. Fabius did not explain how a military strike might have improved the situation in Syria, where a three-year-old civil war continues to rage. But advocates of such a move argued that it would have blunted Mr. Assad’s ability to carry out air and artillery strikes on populated areas, improved the position of insurgents on the ground and given Mr. Assad’s political opposition more leverage in peace talks that are now all but dead.
Mr. Fabius’s remarks revealed a rare display of disunity in allied ranks and came as Lakhdar Brahimi, the special United Nations envoy for Syria, announced his resignation out of frustration with failed diplomacy.
The developments came just two days before European and Arab nations are to gather in London to discuss the crisis in Syria. They also come as Ahmad Jarba, the head of the moderate Syrian opposition, is in Washington for talks with senior Obama administration officials.
The State Department had no comment on Mr. Fabius’s assertions of chemical attacks, saying the matter was being investigated by the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons. But American officials have said in recent weeks that they were aware of reports that chlorine might have been used in attacks more than a dozen times.
The agreement reached last year to eliminate Syria’s chemical weapons arsenal does not require the elimination of chlorine, a common ingredient in many products and industrial applications, and one of the original chemical weapons first introduced by Germany in World War I.
But the use of chlorine as a weapon would still violate the Chemical Weapons Convention, which Syria signed last year.
The State Department defended President Obama’s decision to refrain from using force in Syria, saying that it led to the diplomatic agreement that has eliminated 92 percent of Syria’s chemical stockpile. Under a United Nations Security Council resolution that followed that agreement, Syria is obliged to destroy the whole arsenal by the end of June.
During his Washington visit, Mr. Fabius also consulted with Mr. Kerry on Ukraine. To the consternation of the United States, France appears determined to proceed with the sale of two Mistral amphibious assault ships to Russia.
In its report on Tuesday, Human Rights Watch, based in New York, said “evidence strongly suggests that Syrian government helicopters dropped barrel bombs embedded with cylinders of chlorine gas on three towns in Northern Syria in mid-April 2014.”In its report on Tuesday, Human Rights Watch, based in New York, said “evidence strongly suggests that Syrian government helicopters dropped barrel bombs embedded with cylinders of chlorine gas on three towns in Northern Syria in mid-April 2014.”
While the authorities in Damascus and insurgents seeking to overthrow President Bashar al-Assad have accused one another of using chlorine gas, the Human Rights Watch report noted that “the Syrian government is the only party to the conflict with helicopters and other aircraft.” While the authorities in Damascus and insurgents seeking to overthrow President Assad have accused one another of using chlorine gas, the Human Rights Watch report noted that “the Syrian government is the only party to the conflict with helicopters and other aircraft.”
The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, the Hague-based group that is collaborating with the United Nations in overseeing the dismantling of Syria’s chemical munitions arsenal, announced a new mission to Syria last month assigned to investigate the suspected chlorine gas use. The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, The Hague-based group that is collaborating with the United Nations in overseeing the dismantling of Syria’s chemical munitions arsenal, announced a new mission to Syria last month assigned to investigate the suspected chlorine gas use.
Human Rights Watch said it based its findings on interviews with what the group described as 10 witnesses, including five medical personnel, along with video and photographs of debris suggesting “that government forces dropped barrel bombs containing embedded chlorine gas cylinders in attacks from April 11 to 21 on three towns in northwestern Syria.” Human Rights Watch said its findings were based on interviews with what the group described as 10 witnesses, including five medical personnel, along with video and photographs of debris suggesting “that government forces dropped barrel bombs containing embedded chlorine gas cylinders in attacks from April 11 to 21 on three towns in northwestern Syria.”
“The witnesses consistently described the clinical signs and symptoms of exposure to a choking agent, also known as a lung or pulmonary agent, by victims,” the report said. The attacks killed at least 11 people and affected nearly 500 people.“The witnesses consistently described the clinical signs and symptoms of exposure to a choking agent, also known as a lung or pulmonary agent, by victims,” the report said. The attacks killed at least 11 people and affected nearly 500 people.
The three areas, the report said, included Kfar Zeita, northwest of Hama, on April 11 and 18, Al Temana, north of Hama, on April 13 and 18, and Telmans, southeast of the city of Idlib on April 21. The three areas, the report said, included Kfar Zeita, northwest of Hama, on April 11 and 18; Al Temana, north of Hama, on April 13 and 18; and Telmans, southeast of the city of Idlib, on April 21.
“Seven of 10 people interviewed by Human Rights Watch reported smelling a distinct odor in the area targeted by the barrel bombs,” the report said. “They remarked that this odor was familiar and similar to that of common household cleaners.”“Seven of 10 people interviewed by Human Rights Watch reported smelling a distinct odor in the area targeted by the barrel bombs,” the report said. “They remarked that this odor was familiar and similar to that of common household cleaners.”
“Half of the people interviewed by Human Rights Watch reported that the explosion of the barrel bombs produced ‘yellow smoke’ or ‘dark yellowish smoke’ in addition to the usual smoke from bomb explosions,” the report said. “Such reports of an unusual ‘yellow smoke’ at the attack site are consistent with the release of chlorine gas from the rupture of industrial compressed gas cylinders.”“Half of the people interviewed by Human Rights Watch reported that the explosion of the barrel bombs produced ‘yellow smoke’ or ‘dark yellowish smoke’ in addition to the usual smoke from bomb explosions,” the report said. “Such reports of an unusual ‘yellow smoke’ at the attack site are consistent with the release of chlorine gas from the rupture of industrial compressed gas cylinders.”
Under a United Nations Security Council resolution unanimously passed last September, Syria’s government promised to purge its 1,100-ton stockpile of chemical munitions by June 30. But the government has missed interim deadlines in a timetable for exporting the munitions for destruction abroad, drawing increased concern by critics, led by the United States, who say Mr. Assad is procrastinating. Under the Security Council resolution unanimously passed last September, Syria’s government promised to purge its 1,100-ton stockpile of chemical munitions by June 30. But the government has missed interim deadlines in a timetable for exporting the munitions for destruction abroad, drawing increased concern by critics, led by the United States, who say President Assad is procrastinating.
Last week, the United Nations official overseeing the eradication effort, Sigrid Kaag, said that the last remaining batch of chemical compounds to be exported, about 100 tons, is at an airfield outside Damascus and that the Syrian authorities had deemed the batch too dangerous to transport for now because of insurgent threats. Ms. Kaag said that once the route was secured, it would take less than a week to move the chemicals to the port of Latakia, where Danish and Norwegian vessels have been waiting. Last week the United Nations official overseeing the eradication effort, Sigrid Kaag, said the last remaining batch of chemical compounds to be exported, about 100 tons, was at an airfield outside Damascus and that the Syrian authorities had deemed the batch too dangerous to transport for now because of insurgent threats. Ms. Kaag said that once the route was secured, it would take less than a week to move the chemicals to the port of Latakia, where Danish and Norwegian vessels have been waiting.
Denmark’s foreign minister, Martin Lidegaard, said Tuesday that “we cannot keep on waiting forever” for the final batch and urged the Syrians to expedite the process. Mr. Lidegaard made the remarks to Reuters Television aboard the Ark Futura, the Danish vessel.Denmark’s foreign minister, Martin Lidegaard, said Tuesday that “we cannot keep on waiting forever” for the final batch and urged the Syrians to expedite the process. Mr. Lidegaard made the remarks to Reuters Television aboard the Ark Futura, the Danish vessel.