United Nations Security Council envoys were reportedly in tears after viewing footage of a chlorine gas attack in Syria from earlier this year, as they pledged to hold the perpetrators accountable.
US Ambassador to the United Nations Samantha Power said the UN Security Council meeting was "extremely unusual and very emotional," adding, "If there was a dry eye in the room I didn't see it."
"Those people responsible for these attacks have to be held accountable," Ms Power told reporters after the meeting.
“We need an attribution mechanism so we know precisely who carried out these attacks… only the Assad regime has helicopters,” she added, noting the bombs were dropped from aircraft.
The footage showed the aftermath of the attack on the city of Idlib earlier this year. Syrian doctors are seen trying unsuccessfully resuscitate 3 young children.
“But we need to move forward in a manner that also makes it very clear to all council members that those people responsible for those attacks are held accountable,” continued Ms Powers.
"The long arm of justice is taking more time than any of us would wish right now, but this documentary record will be used at some point in a court of law".
"If we don't act on this then others will believe that they can do this sort of thing with impunity and that would be a deplorable outcome," added New Zealand's Ambassador to the UN Jim McLay.
Zaher Sahloul, President of the Syrian American Medical Society, who was also present at the meeting, said,
"Clearly [the UN envoys] were affected by what they have seen in the videos and what they have heard, many of them spoke outside the diplomatic language and many of them have said that this is outrageous and the perpetrators should be brought to justice".
Human Rights Watch’s UN director, Philippe Bolopion said,
“So far, the Syrian government has paid no price for committing a war crime with banned chemical weapons. Security council members, including Russia, should promptly ensure a credible investigation to uncover responsibility for the use of toxic chemicals,”
The Syrian government denies it was responsible for the attack.