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Evidence “strongly suggests” Syria’s government used chlorine gas on three towns in mid-April in violation of the chemical weapons treaty it joined last year, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said on Tuesday.
The New York-based watchdog cited interviews with witnesses and medical personnel, video of the attacks and photographs of the remnants of barrel bombs.
“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 this year,” HRW said.
Doctors who treated victims said at least 11 people were killed in the attacks and “symptoms consistent with exposure to chlorine” were seen in nearly 500 people, said the report.
It documented attacks on the towns of Kafr Zita in central Hama on April 11 and 18, Al-Temana in Idlib on April 13 and 18 and Telmans also in Idlib province on April 21.

All three are areas under rebel control.
Opposition sources have claimed several government attacks using chlorine gas have taken place, and Syrian state television acknowledged one such attack in Kafr Zita but blamed it on the jihadist al-Nusra Front.
However, opposition activists say the chlorine is delivered by barrel bombs dropped from helicopters, which only the government possesses.
HRW said video of barrel bomb remnants at the site of the attacks showed canisters with the code CL2 – the symbol for chlorine gas.
The group acknowledged it could not “independently confirm” that the chlorine gas cylinders caught on film were packed in the barrel bombs that were dropped from helicopters.
But it said that it was unlikely the footage was staged or that the chlorine gas was added to the barrel bombs, citing symptoms reported by doctors and witnesses “consistent with exposure to chlorine”.
“Syria’s apparent use of chlorine gas as a weapon – not to mention targeting of civilians – is a plain violation of international law,” said HRW deputy Middle East and North Africa director Nadim Houry.
“This is one more reason for the UN Security Council to refer the situation in Syria to the International Criminal Court.”
Syria joined the Chemical Weapons Convention last year as part of a deal to surrender its chemical weapons arsenal after it was accused of a sarin attack in the suburbs of Damascus.
Possessing chlorine is not a violation of the convention, but the treaty prevents the use of the gas as a weapon.
The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons watchdog said last month it would look into the attacks and has dispatched a team to carry out investigations on the ground in Syria.
 


Human Rights Watch says evidence 'strongly suggests’ Syria regime used chlorine gas

A woman affected by what activists say was a gas attack on Telmans arrives for treatment at Bab al-Hawa hospital, near the Turkish border on April 21. Photo: Reuters

A UN investigator takes samples near a missile thought likely to carry chemicals, according to activists. Photo: AP

Dozens killed in Syria bloodshed as watchdog probes chlorine attacks

Damaged vehicles at the scene of the mortar attack in central Damascus. Photo: AP

Beijing probes alleged link to Syria chlorine bomb

The unverified video on YouTube showing the chlorine cylinder with the markings of the Chinese company Norinco. Photo: SCMP

Markings of the Chinese company Norinco.

Syria misses another deadline for surrender of its chemical weapons

Members of a joint mission of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) and the United Nations signing an agreement with Syrian officials, in Damascus. Photo: AFP

Smoke ascends after a Syrian military helicopter allegedly dropped a barrel bomb in Damascus. Photo: AFP

Russia says Syria to ship more chemical weapons, attend talks

Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov (right) listens during a meeting with Syrian opposition leader Ahmad Jarba (left) in Moscow. Photo: Reuters

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New York-based rights group says there is evidence indicating Assad regime used chlorine gas on three towns under rebel control in April


Human Rights Watch says evidence 'strongly suggests’ Syria regime used chlorine gas

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}New York-based rights group says there is evidence indicating Assad regime used chlorine gas on three towns under rebel control in April

New York-based rights group says there is evidence indicating Assad regime used chlorine gas on three towns under rebel control in April