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| Syrian filmmaker on exposing horrors of Aleppo | Photo CNN |
By CNN VIA Citizen
Digital
Digital
Around
100 people were injured in toxic gas attack on the government-controlled city
of Aleppo Saturday, according to Syrian state media and a British-based human
rights group.
100 people were injured in toxic gas attack on the government-controlled city
of Aleppo Saturday, according to Syrian state media and a British-based human
rights group.
It’s
not clear who carried out the attack, but Syria’s state news agency quoted a
local commander as blaming “terrorist groups,” while Russia accused militants
of firing mortar rounds containing chlorine on the city’s northwestern
districts.
not clear who carried out the attack, but Syria’s state news agency quoted a
local commander as blaming “terrorist groups,” while Russia accused militants
of firing mortar rounds containing chlorine on the city’s northwestern
districts.
The
reported attack on Aleppo is the first since Russia and Turkey agreed to
establish a demilitarized zone in the rebel-controlled Idlib province,
according to UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR).
reported attack on Aleppo is the first since Russia and Turkey agreed to
establish a demilitarized zone in the rebel-controlled Idlib province,
according to UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR).
Rights
groups said an investigation into the attack was needed and called on Russia
and Syria to allow a neutral third party to look into it.
groups said an investigation into the attack was needed and called on Russia
and Syria to allow a neutral third party to look into it.
“Serious
reports of suspected chemical weapon attacks should not be left without
investigation,” Lama Fakih, Deputy Director for the Middle East and North
Africa, Human Rights Watch said in a statement.
reports of suspected chemical weapon attacks should not be left without
investigation,” Lama Fakih, Deputy Director for the Middle East and North
Africa, Human Rights Watch said in a statement.
“All
parties, including the Syrian government and Russia, should facilitate an
investigation by the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons into
the suspected attack in Aleppo which reportedly affected dozens, including
children. All parties should stop the use of prohibited weapons and attacks on
civilians.”
parties, including the Syrian government and Russia, should facilitate an
investigation by the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons into
the suspected attack in Aleppo which reportedly affected dozens, including
children. All parties should stop the use of prohibited weapons and attacks on
civilians.”
The
Syrian army responded by shelling the source of the attack, SANA reported, without
providing additional details. Russian warplanes hit Syrian rebel targets, state
news agency RIA-Novosti reported.
Syrian army responded by shelling the source of the attack, SANA reported, without
providing additional details. Russian warplanes hit Syrian rebel targets, state
news agency RIA-Novosti reported.
Toxic
air
air
SOHR
said 94 civilians, including dozens of children, suffered from asphyxiation
following the toxic gas attack in Aleppo. The group said explosions had been
heard as shells fell on the western part of the city.
said 94 civilians, including dozens of children, suffered from asphyxiation
following the toxic gas attack in Aleppo. The group said explosions had been
heard as shells fell on the western part of the city.
Citing
hospital sources, SANA reported 107 people were injured in the gas attack,
ranging from mild to medium in severity.
hospital sources, SANA reported 107 people were injured in the gas attack,
ranging from mild to medium in severity.
Russian
state media also reported injuries from the attack, saying that 46 people,
including eight children, suffered from exposure to gas. It added that Russian
chemical weapons specialists had been deployed to provide relief to the city’s
affected residents.
state media also reported injuries from the attack, saying that 46 people,
including eight children, suffered from exposure to gas. It added that Russian
chemical weapons specialists had been deployed to provide relief to the city’s
affected residents.
Other
gas attacks
gas attacks
The
attack, if confirmed, would not be the first time gas has been used in the
Syrian conflict.
attack, if confirmed, would not be the first time gas has been used in the
Syrian conflict.
In
May, several Syrian activist groups reported that a brutal gas attack on the
remnants of the rebel-held city of Douma in Eastern Ghouta left dozens of
civilians dead and scores wounded.
May, several Syrian activist groups reported that a brutal gas attack on the
remnants of the rebel-held city of Douma in Eastern Ghouta left dozens of
civilians dead and scores wounded.
The
groups — including the White Helmets, the Douma Coordination Committee and the
Ghouta Media Center — said toxic gas inside barrel bombs dropped by helicopters
over Douma caused people to suffocate and choke.
groups — including the White Helmets, the Douma Coordination Committee and the
Ghouta Media Center — said toxic gas inside barrel bombs dropped by helicopters
over Douma caused people to suffocate and choke.
Syrian
state news agency SANA cited an “official source” who denied the allegations,
and citing the same sources wrote that the Syrian Arab Army “does not need to
use any chemical materials as claimed by terrorists’ media affiliates.”
state news agency SANA cited an “official source” who denied the allegations,
and citing the same sources wrote that the Syrian Arab Army “does not need to
use any chemical materials as claimed by terrorists’ media affiliates.”
In
April 2017, more than 80 people were killed in a sarin attack on the rebel-held
town of Khan Sheikhoun — an attack that prompted the United States to launch 59
Tomahawk cruise missiles at a Syrian airbase.
April 2017, more than 80 people were killed in a sarin attack on the rebel-held
town of Khan Sheikhoun — an attack that prompted the United States to launch 59
Tomahawk cruise missiles at a Syrian airbase.
A
joint report from the United Nations and international chemical weapons
inspectors last October determined the Syrian regime of Bashar al-Assad was
responsible for the attack.
joint report from the United Nations and international chemical weapons
inspectors last October determined the Syrian regime of Bashar al-Assad was
responsible for the attack.
Syria
has repeatedly denied it had anything to do with the attack and denies it has
any chemical weapons. Damascus has said an airstrike hit a chemical weapons
depot in the rebel-held area.
has repeatedly denied it had anything to do with the attack and denies it has
any chemical weapons. Damascus has said an airstrike hit a chemical weapons
depot in the rebel-held area.
First
attack since buffer zone created
attack since buffer zone created
Announcing
the demilitariazation agreement in September, Russian President Vladimir Putin
and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the creation of a 15- to
20-kilometer (approximately nine to 12 miles) demilitarized zone would prevent
a “humanitarian crisis” in the northwestern province.
the demilitariazation agreement in September, Russian President Vladimir Putin
and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the creation of a 15- to
20-kilometer (approximately nine to 12 miles) demilitarized zone would prevent
a “humanitarian crisis” in the northwestern province.
However,
shelling from the regime and the rebels has killed and injured dozens of
civilians and militants, according to the SOHR.
shelling from the regime and the rebels has killed and injured dozens of
civilians and militants, according to the SOHR.
The
Syrian regime has regained control of much of the country over the past few
years, but Idlib has remained a bastion of rebel support.
Syrian regime has regained control of much of the country over the past few
years, but Idlib has remained a bastion of rebel support.