Many Were Left Gasping For Breath
Six civilians were killed and nearly one hundred were hurt by a chlorine gas attack allegedly carried out in the country’s small town of Sarmin.
The local hospital physician stated, “nearly one hundred people suffered from choking and gasping for breath.”
Syrian activists accused the Syrian regime for the attack that took place on March 16th at approximately 10 pm est. Activists said that four barrel bombs were dropped, two of which contained chlorine gas.
The Syrian regime rejected the accusation and instead blamed the rebels for the deadly gas attack.
US Disturbed By The Attack
In a press statement in Washington DC, US Secretary of State John Kerry said the US was deeply disturbed by reports that the Assad regime used chlorine as a weapon again, this time on March 16 in an attack on the town of Sarmin.
“We are looking very closely into this matter and considering next steps.” – Secretary Kerry
Secretary Kerry reiterated that if the allegations are true, it will affirm that the Assad regime continues to spread their barbarity in Syria.
He stressed that the international community cannot turn a blind eye to such barbarism.
Assad Regime Continues To Terrorize The People Of Syria
According to Secretary Kerry, despite international efforts to stop the bloodshed in Syria, the Assad regime continues to terrorize the people of Syria through indiscriminate airstrikes, barrel bombings, arbitrary detention, torture, sexual violence, murder, and starvation. The Assad regime must be held accountable for such atrocious behavior.
He pointed out that a chemical weapons attack through the use of chlorine would not only be the latest example of the regime’s brutality towards the Syrian people, but also a direct violation of UN Security Council Resolution 2209, which specifically condemned the use of chlorine as a chemical weapon in Syria and made clear such a violation would have consequences.
