Syrian activists report new Assad poison attack

Rebel fighters mourn over the body of a comrade during his funeral on April 10, 2014 in the northern Syrian city of Aleppo. (AFP)

By Staff writer | Al Arabiya News
Friday, 11 April 2014 

 

A Syrian opposition news outlet claimed Friday the government troops attacked a Damascus suburb with poison gas and that residents were showing symptoms of shortness of breath.

The Shaam News Network identified the Damascus suburb of Harasta as the site of the poison gas attack and said several residents were in critical condition.

The report has not been confirmed by secondary sources.

Members of the Syrian opposition have in recent months accused the Damascus regime of using chemical weapons in a number of attacks including in Harasta and Jobar, two suburbs of the Syrian capital.

U.S. and British officials are reportedly investigating claims that Assad’s forces have used chemical weapons in at least four attacks around Damascus between January and April.

The London Times Friday cited British officials as saying that they were “aware of multiple allegations” of poison gas attacks against opposition forces on the outskirts of the capital.

The Times reported that the regime this time may have been using "toxic industrial substances" to frighten rebels in a way that does not trigger a wide international outcry.

This week an Israeli defense official said Assad had used chemical weapons again around the capital at the end of March. The Times of Israel reported that "the nonlethal agents were used to incapacitate opposition fighters."

It cited the defense official as saying that one attack occurred on March 27 in the capital's Harasta neighborhood, and that "the effects of the chemicals lasted for several hours."

In December, a U.N. inquiry found that Sarin gas had likely been used in Jobar and another Damascus suburb called Ghouta. The Syrian opposition accused the Syrian government for the attacks but the regime denied the allegations.

Outrage over the Aug. 21 Ghouta attack, were hundreds of people were killed, sparked global outrage as well a U.S. threat of military strikes.

The strikes were dropped after Damascus vowed to destroy is chemical weapons stockpile, a process that is being supervised by the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons.

Any use of chemical weapons by the Syrian regime would be in clear breach of the agreement it signed with the OPCW.

Last Update: Friday, 11 April 2014 KSA 18:11 - GMT 15:11