Nerve Gas Attack Launched By Government, According To Syrian Activists

Nerve Gas Attack Launched By Government, According To Syrian Activists

The Syrian government was accused of launching a nerve gas attack that killed over 200 people. Syrian activists indicated that the attack was launched on areas controlled by the rebels close to Damascus.

The suburbs of Jobar, Ain Tarma, and Zamalka in the Ghouta region were hit by rockets containing chemical agents, according to activists. The death toll reportedly reached 213 based on information from medical facilities within the region. This was revealed by a Douma Emergency Collection facility nurse, Bayan Baker.

She said that many of the victims were women and children. The pupils of the victims were dilated while their limbs were cold when they arrived. Foam was also noted in the mouths of the victims. Doctors revealed that these were usual signs of victims of a nerve gas attack.

A photo that was supposedly taken by an activist showed sixteen bodies of children and three bodies of adults. One of the adults appeared to wear combat fatigues. The bodies were on the floor of a medical facility.

The incident coincided with the visit of a chemical weapons team of the UN in Damascus. The team will look into the possible use of chemical weapons in the conflict.

No statements were released by the Syrian government. The government has denied launching nerve gas attacks against the rebels. Instead, the government has accused the rebels of using these weapons, which was denied by the rebels.

European countries and the United States have indicated that the government of President Bashar al-Assad has used chemical weapons in the past. The use of these weapons was considered as the red line by the US that gave a good reason for providing military aid to the Syrian rebels.

Around eighty bodies were seen by Khaled Omar, a member of the Ain Tarma opposition local council. Omar indicated that most of the victims were killed inside their homes in the nerve gas attack, which was launched at around three in the morning.

Posted by James Fried on Thursday August 22 2013, 9:32 AM EST. Ref: Reuters. Link. All trademarks acknowledged. Filed under Featured News, World. Comments and Trackbacks closed. Follow responses: RSS 2.0