Report: No chemical weapons used in Syria

Sunday Times claims that British scientists found weapons used in attack on city of Haleb last week which killed 30, were not non-conventional chemical, but strong form of tear gas

Ynet|Published: 03.24.13 , 11:39

After investigation, it is looking more and more likely that there was no use of chemical weapons in the attack last week in the city of Halab, in which 30 died and nearly 100 were injured. This according to a report issued by the UK newspaper The Sunday Times.

Immediately after the event, the Assad government blamed the rebel forces for shooting of missiles carrying chemical weapons at Syrian security forces. In addition to the death of round 30 people, nearly 100 were hurt.

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Initial reports from the center for military studies in the city of Wiltshire show that the agent that was used in the attack was tear gas in a particularly potent form, and not any form of a nerve gas.

Scientists from the military research facility are examining samples collected from the site of the attack by British MI6 agents. Agents have been assisted in the investigation, by photos of the victims being treated in a Syrian hospital.

A senior Syrian source told the Sunday Times that the victims had signs of respiratory distress, signaling a gas that is not based on chemical weapons, because in the opposite case, they would have had burns on their body, or they would have shown signs of damage to the lungs.

(צילום: EPA)

Victims in hospitals (Photo: EPA)

These findings are backed by the statement from the White House, stating that there is no evidence of the use of chemical weapons. A senior American source also said that the US has solid evidence that no chemical weapons were used. Regardless, the Russian foreign ministry blamed opposition forces for using non-conventional chemical weapons.

President Barak Obama said during his visit to the Middle East that he doubted the rebels were responsible for the attack. Obama promised to hold an investigation on the matter and warned that the use of chemical weapons on Syrian soil could be a red line emphasizing the need for policy change.

In addition, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon said that the Assad regime had asked the UN investigate the issue. The rebels turned the blame on the Assad regime and his army.