Khan Shaykhun chemical attack: Difference between revisions
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{{Campaignbox Syrian Civil War}} |
{{Campaignbox Syrian Civil War}} |
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On 4 April 2017, the [[Tahrir al-Sham]] controlled town of [[Khan Shaykhun]], in the [[Idlib Governorate]], was struck by a heavy [[airstrike]]<ref name=bbc1/> followed by a massive civilian chemical intoxication. The release of the toxic gas, |
On 4 April 2017, the [[Tahrir al-Sham]] controlled town of [[Khan Shaykhun]], in the [[Idlib Governorate]], was struck by a heavy [[airstrike]]<ref name=bbc1/> followed by a massive civilian chemical intoxication. The release of the toxic gas, likely [[sarin]], resulted in massive civilian casualties.<ref name="Francis"/> Fifty-eight people were reported dead by the Idlib health authority and more than three-hundred people were reported to have been injured.<ref name="Francis">{{cite news|url=http://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-syria-idlib-idUSKBN1760IB|title=Scores reported killed in gas attack on Syrian rebel area|last=Francis|first=Ellen|date=4 April 2017|work=Reuters|accessdate=4 April 2017|location=Beirut}}</ref> If confirmed, the attack was the deadliest [[use of chemical weapons in the Syrian Civil War]] since the [[Ghouta chemical attack]] in 2013.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/middle-east/2017/04/04/Syria-toxic-gas-attack-kills-civilians-in-Idlib-province.html|title=Syria ‘toxic gas’ attack kills 100 in Idlib province|work=Al-Arabiya & AFP|date=4 April 2017}}</ref> |
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==Previous attack== |
==Previous attack== |
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Revision as of 23:58, 4 April 2017
 | This article documents a recent mass casualty event. Information may change rapidly as the event progresses, and initial news reports may be unreliable. The latest updates to this article may not reflect the most current information. (April 2017) |
| Khan Shaykhun chemical attack | |
|---|---|
| Part of the Syrian Civil War | |
| Location | Khan Shaykhun, Khan Shaykhun Nahiyah, Idlib Governorate (de jure Syria) |
| Date | 4 April 2017 06:30 local time[1] |
Attack type | Chemical attack (alleged) |
| Weapons | Chemical weapon |
| Deaths | 58–100+ (including 11 children)[2] |
| Injured | 300–400+[2] |
| Perpetrators | Unknown |
On 4 April 2017, the Tahrir al-Sham controlled town of Khan Shaykhun, in the Idlib Governorate, was struck by a heavy airstrike[2] followed by a massive civilian chemical intoxication. The release of the toxic gas, likely sarin, resulted in massive civilian casualties.[3] Fifty-eight people were reported dead by the Idlib health authority and more than three-hundred people were reported to have been injured.[3] If confirmed, the attack was the deadliest use of chemical weapons in the Syrian Civil War since the Ghouta chemical attack in 2013.[4]
Previous attack
On 30 March 2017, an airstrike hit the town of al-Lataminah in the northern Hama Governorate, around 15 kilometres (9 miles) from Khan Shaykhun. More than 70 people in the area were then exposed to an unidentified chemical agent and showed symptoms of nausea, agitation, foaming, muscle spasm, and miosis (constriction of the pupil of the eye). Cardiac arrest occurred in two of the victims[5] and an orthopedic doctor died.[6]
Attack
Chlorine usually kills just a few people, especially those in contained spaces and buildings. In contrast, in this attack, many people died outside. They were affected by pinpoint pupils indicative of nerve agents and other toxins.[7]
A few hours after the attack, a nearby clinic treating victims was hit by an airstrike. The area's largest hospital had been bombed two days prior.[7]
Responsibility
Syrian opposition claims
Medical sources in Idlib reported that more than 58 people, including 11 children, were killed and more than 300 were wounded. According to the Idlib Media Centre, the chemical agent had the characteristics of sarin. The National Coalition for Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces accused the Ba'athist Syrian government and the Syrian Armed Forces of carrying out the attack and called for an immediate investigation by the United Nations Security Council.[2]
Syrian government claims
On the day of the attack, a Syrian government official told Reuters that "the government does not and has not used chemical weapons, not in the past and not in the future."[8] The pro-government Al-Masdar News cited an army source as saying it had attacked a missile factory in the town, using Sukhoi Su-22 bombs which cannot be filled with any chemical substances, and did not know if the factory contained chemicals.[9]
International responses
The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) expressed "serious concern" and said that its Fact Finding Mission in Syria was gathering and analysing information from all available sources.[10]
The diplomatic chief of the EU, Federica Mogherini, said Bashar al-Assad's government bears “primary responsibility” for the suspected chemical attack.[11] Mogherini named the event "awful news".
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said such inhumane attacks are unacceptable, a statement attributed to presidential sources said.[12] Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu condemned the chemical attack by government forces.[13]
U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said: “Anyone who uses chemical weapons to attack his own people shows a fundamental disregard for human decency and must be held accountable.”[14]
According to Russia's defence ministry, "Planes of the Russian air force have not carried out any strikes near Khan Shaykhun of Idlib province."[15]
See also
- April 2016 Idlib bombings
- Destruction of Syria's chemical weapons
- List of massacres during the Syrian Civil War
- Syria and weapons of mass destruction
References
- ^ "Syria gas attack reportedly kills dozens, including children". CNN. Retrieved 4 April 2017.
- ^ a b c d "Syria conflict: 'Chemical attack' in Idlib kills dozens". BBC. 4 April 2017.
- ^ a b Francis, Ellen (4 April 2017). "Scores reported killed in gas attack on Syrian rebel area". Reuters. Beirut. Retrieved 4 April 2017.
- ^ "Syria 'toxic gas' attack kills 100 in Idlib province". Al-Arabiya & AFP. 4 April 2017.
- ^ "Breaking: Chemical Weapons Attack in Latamneh, Hama Injures 70". Union of Medical Care and Relief Organizations. 30 March 2017.
- ^ "Warplanes strike near Syria's Hama as army counter-attacks". Reuters. 30 March 2017.
Speaking to Reuters from Turkey, Abdallah Darwish, head of the health authority for rebel-held parts of Hama province, said air strikes in the south of Latamneh on Thursday morning had injured many people. "The bombardment had a substance that caused intense irritation, heavy foaming from the mouth, and constricting pupils," said Darwish, citing his medical staff on the ground. A chemical attack hit the same area on Saturday, killing an orthopedic doctor, Darwish added.
- ^ a b Barnard, Anne and Gordon, Michael R. (April 4, 2017). "Worst Chemical Attack in Years in Syria; U.S. Blames Assad". The New York Times. Retrieved April 4, 2017.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ "Syria gas attack: Children among 58 reported killed in Idlib". Middle East Eye. 4 April 2017.
On Tuesday, an unnamed official told the Reuters news agency that the government "does not and has not" used chemical weapons, "not in the past and not in the future".
- ^ "Details of Syrian military attack on southern Idlib town", by Leith Fadel, Al-Masdar News
- ^ OPCW Press Release on Allegations of Chemical Weapons Use in Southern Idlib, Syria, 2017-04-04.
- ^ "Assad regime responsible for 'awful' Syria 'chemical' attack: EU's Mogherini". Al Arabiya. 2017-04-04.
- ^ "Turkey condemns Syria's gas attack, urges Russia over Astana process". Ankara: Hurriyet Daily News. 2017-04-04.
- ^ "No Syrians will be left to decide Assad's fate if attacks continue, FM Çavuşoğlu says". Daily Sabah. 2017-04-04.
- ^ "Russia, Iran bear 'moral responsibility' for Syria chemical attack – US State Dept.". RT. 4 April 2017.
- ^ "Chemical attack in Idlib draws international condemnation". TRT World. 4 April 2017.
