Since the begging of the Syrian civil war, both sides of the conflict are accusing each other for using the chemical weapons. In the recent event, on August 1st, a spokesman for Syria Civil Defense told Reuters that two barrels of the bomb dropped on the city of Saraqeb, which they are suspected to be choleric gas bombs. The group, which describes itself as a neutral band of search and rescue volunteers, posted a video on YouTube purportedly showing a number of men struggling to breathe after being given an oxygen mask by people in civil defense uniforms. They also claimed that up to 33 people are injured by the gas attack and most of them are woman and children.
The suspected attack comes almost a year after the UN security council adopted a resolution that set a 12 month-deadline to identify the perpetrators of chlorine attacks in Syria. The deadline expires next week.Western powers have said the Syrian government has been responsible for chlorine and other chemical attacks, while the government and Russia have accused rebel forces of using poison gas.
The attack took place close to the place which Russian Mi-8 transport helicopter was brought down by ground fire in Idlib, three days ago. Russian Defense ministry claims that the helicopter was sending the humanitarian aid to the Syrian civilians who are surrounded in Aleppo. It is the deadliest single incident for the Russian military since its entrance into Syria's civil war. "Three crew members and two officers from the Russian Reconciliation Center in Syria were on board," the ministry said in a statement.
Since the conflict began in 2011, there have more than 160 chemical attacks in Syria, according to the Syrian American Medical Society (SAMS). "The 161 documented chemical attacks have led to at least 1,491 deaths and 14,581 injuries from chemical exposure," SAMS said in a report published in March. Another 133 chemical attacks were reported in addition to the 161 documented in the reported, but SAMS said the claims "could not be fully substantiated.”
Humanitarian organizations are trying to collect evidences about the recent gas attack in Syria. If the reports happen to be true, it can be used as a leverage for opposition groups in the next rounds of the peace negotiations which is going to be held next month by the moderation of the U.N .
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