Chemical weapons watchdog: Chlorine used in attack on Syrian town of Saraqeb in February
The mission of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) concluded that on February 4 chemical weapons, probably chlorine, were used near the city of Saraqeb in the Syrian province of Idlib.
The OPCW report, released on May 16, states that “chlorine was released from cylinders by mechanical impact in the Al-Talil neighbourhood of Saraqeb."
The experts studied two cylinders, which used to contain the chemicals, and also analyzed the samples taken in the area of the chemical attack. The study showed high chlorine content on the ground. The Fact-Finding mission of the OPCW stressed that its task was only to establish the circumstances of the chemical attack, and not to identify the perpetrators of the attack.
The report on the use of chemical weapons in Saraqeb was sent to the UN Security Council.
The OPCW mission has previously confirmed with "a high degree of certainty" the use of chlorine, mustard gas and sarin in Syria during the ongoing conflict in the country since 2011. President Bashar Assad’s regime rejects accusations of involvement in chemical attacks.
The Syrian army was accused of air strikes on Khan Shaykhun (Idlib province) in April of last year. More than 80 civilians were killed by sarin poisoning and more than 550 people were injured during the attack.