The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) has confirmed that chlorine gas was used in attacks on Syrian villages earlier this year.
An OPCW report said that it had "compelling confirmation" and “a high degree of confidence" of the use of chlorine in the attacks, which took place as Syrian government troops battled against opposition forces.
Whilst the OPCW has been overseeing the destruction of chemical weapons owned by the Syrian government, it is not obliged to declare any stockpiles of chlorine, regarded as a weak toxic agent.
However the organisation went on to add that the chlorine attacks on the northern Syrian villages occurred “systematically and repeatedly”.
The British Foreign Office responded to the report, saying,
An OPCW report said that it had "compelling confirmation" and “a high degree of confidence" of the use of chlorine in the attacks, which took place as Syrian government troops battled against opposition forces.
Whilst the OPCW has been overseeing the destruction of chemical weapons owned by the Syrian government, it is not obliged to declare any stockpiles of chlorine, regarded as a weak toxic agent.
However the organisation went on to add that the chlorine attacks on the northern Syrian villages occurred “systematically and repeatedly”.
The British Foreign Office responded to the report, saying,
"The systematic and repeated use of chlorine in northern Syria and the consistent reports from witnesses of the presence of helicopters at the times of the attacks leave little doubt as to the Assad regime's culpability.”See more from the BBC here and the Telegraph here.