The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) in The Hague announced the results of its two-year investigation into the use of chemical warfare agents in the Syrian rebel-held city of Douma. 43 people were killed in 2018.
“At least one helicopter belonging to the Syrian elite ‘Tigers’ force dropped two yellow cylinders of poisonous chlorine gas on two apartment buildings in an area inhabited by civilians in Douma, killing 43 identified people and injuring dozens more,” said a published statement. yesterday report summary. The “Tiger” unit is an elite force of the Syrian army.
International Appeal to Regimes
The United States, Britain, France and Germany issued a joint statement yesterday: “Our governments condemn in the strongest possible terms the Syrian regime’s repeated use of these horrific weapons and support our call for the Assad regime to immediately fulfill its obligations under the Chemical Weapons Convention.” (CWC) and relevant UN Security Council resolutions.”
The attack on Douma on April 7, 2018 was part of a major military offensive by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s troops against the then rebel stronghold. A previous investigation by the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons found in 2019 that chemical weapons were used. However, this investigation had no mandate to find or name a culprit. Published results are based on additional investigations between January 2021 and December 2022.