Syria war: At least 70 reported dead in suspected gas attack

[Amica Nostra 4,803]

Rescuers and medics say at least 70 people have died in Syria in a suspected gas attack in Douma, the last rebel-held town in Eastern Ghouta.

Volunteer rescue force the White Helmets tweeted graphic images showing several bodies in basements. It said the death toll is likely to rise.

There has been no independent verification of the reports.

Syria's government has called the allegations of a chemical attack a "fabrication".

The US state department said it is monitoring the "very disturbing" reports, and that Russia - which is fighting alongside the Syrian government - should be held responsible if deadly chemicals had been used.

 

•  

"The regime's history of using chemical weapons against its own people in not in dispute," said the state department.

It said it believed at least 40 people died, but that the toll may be far higher.

What do we know about the alleged gas attack?

Several medical, monitoring and activist groups reported details of a chemical attack, but figures vary and what happened is still becoming clear.

"Seventy people suffocated to death and hundreds are still suffocating," said Raed al-Saleh, head of the White Helmets. An earlier, now deleted tweet put the figure at more than 150

 

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-43686157,

 

[implife 318]

and what kind of reaction or response to this are you expecting?

[Jacque67 7,328]

The Assad regime and its backers must be held accountable and any further attacks prevented immediately. Russia, with its unwavering support for the regime, ultimately bears responsibility for these brutal attacks, targeting of countless civilians, and the suffocation of Syria’s most vulnerable communities with chemical weapons. By shielding its ally Syria, Russia has breached its commitments to the United Nations as a framework guarantor. It has betrayed the Chemical Weapons Convention and UN Security Council Resolution 2118. Russia’s protection of the Assad regime and failure to stop the use of chemical weapons in Syria calls into question its commitment to resolving the overall crisis and to larger non-proliferation priorities.

The United States calls on Russia to end this unmitigated support immediately and work with the international community to prevent further, barbaric chemical weapons attacks.

[Jacque67 7,328]

https://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2018/04/280313.htm

 

wonder how long Heather will keep her job?

Bolton starts work Monday.

[Jacque67 7,328]

Animal Assad. No spelling mistakes. After one person died in a fire at Trump Tower ( no sprinklers).

Hmm...

 

Many dead, including women and children, in mindless CHEMICAL attack in Syria. Area of atrocity is in lockdown and encircled by Syrian Army, making it completely inaccessible to outside world. President Putin, Russia and Iran are responsible for backing Animal Assad. Big price...

19 minutes ago

DJT

[Keith & Arileidi 437]

Man, that sucks. 

[jg121783 3,915]

I wonder what reason Assad would have for carrying out such an attack when his side is so close to totally wiping out the so called rebels (terrorists). Not saying Assad is a good person but I just dont see any reason he would want to do this. In fact it works against him. This is one area I really disagree with Trump on. We need to be out of Syria immediately. I know Trump is being convinced by some in his administration to stay and he needs to stand up to them and say no. I wonder if this gas attack was carried out by a group that wants us to remain in Syria.

[Póg mo 1,749]

10 hours ago, Il Mango Dulce said:

Rescuers and medics say at least 70 people have died in Syria in a suspected gas attack in Douma, the last rebel-held town in Eastern Ghouta.

Volunteer rescue force the White Helmets tweeted graphic images showing several bodies in basements. It said the death toll is likely to rise.

There has been no independent verification of the reports.

Syria's government has called the allegations of a chemical attack a "fabrication".

The US state department said it is monitoring the "very disturbing" reports, and that Russia - which is fighting alongside the Syrian government - should be held responsible if deadly chemicals had been used.

 

•  

"The regime's history of using chemical weapons against its own people in not in dispute," said the state department.

It said it believed at least 40 people died, but that the toll may be far higher.

What do we know about the alleged gas attack?

Several medical, monitoring and activist groups reported details of a chemical attack, but figures vary and what happened is still becoming clear.

"Seventy people suffocated to death and hundreds are still suffocating," said Raed al-Saleh, head of the White Helmets. An earlier, now deleted tweet put the figure at more than 150

 

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-43686157,

 

I believe peoples Sshouldwait for an actual investigation before rushing to conclusions. Last I heard Assad was winning, so I am not sure what would be gained by using chemical weapons, especially when the US amongst others have threatened to retaliate in the past, when ever chemical weapons are alleged to have been used.

 

The regime's history of using chemical weapons does not necessarily mean it is using them now. The Syrian rebels also have a checkered history of using alleged crimes of the regime to elicit international sympathy. Until we know more, we should be careful about jumping to conclusions. 

 

My opinion is that Assad, like him or hate him, offers the best way forward at this time, for returning Syria to a more stable footing. Civil wars are extremely messy things, where everyone gets their hands dirty, and I believe it is usually best as much as possible to let things work themselves out. 

If anyone wishes for the United States to step in and help people, then let me suggest that it begin with the other conflict in the region e.g. the one where Western countries have contributed large amounts of weapons and has seen its fair share of human rights abuses.

[Jacque67 7,328]

False flag arguments/Assad didn't do it: same arguments made after Khan Shakyoun.

within a week Trump's gone from we're pulling out, to Assad should be deposed. He has no clear foreign policy and is heavily influenced by what he happens to see on Fox. A disaster.

[Póg mo 1,749]

3 minutes ago, Jacque67 said:

False flag arguments/Assad didn't do it: same arguments made after Khan Shakyoun.

Sorry no. We don't know who did it. Assad may have been behind it. Soldiers loyal, acting independently, could have done it. The rebels could have been done it, and for all we know, someone working working at the behest of the United States could have caused the attack. 

 

3 minutes ago, Jacque67 said:

within a week Trump's gone from we're pulling out, to Assad should be deposed. He has no clear foreign policy and is heavily influenced by what he happens to see on Fox. A disaster.

What do you want? Assad to be gone, and a potential power vacuum ensuing, while plunging the country into further uncertainty and longer term instability. 

 

Trump is a pretty terrible leader, but don't make the mistake of assuming that just because Trump doesn't want to go all out and remove Assad, that he is necessarily wrong.  

[Amica Nostra 4,803]

24 minutes ago, Póg mo said:

Sorry no. We don't know who did it. Assad may have been behind it. Soldiers loyal, acting independently, could have done it. The rebels could have been done it, and for all we know, someone working working at the behest of the United States could have caused the attack. 

 

What do you want? Assad to be gone, and a potential power vacuum ensuing, while plunging the country into further uncertainty and longer term instability. 

 

Trump is a pretty terrible leader, but don't make the mistake of assuming that just because Trump doesn't want to go all out and remove Assad, that he is necessarily wrong.  

The facts surrounding the usage of Chemical weapons favor Assad as the culprit. 

 

For me personally, my views of Assad and his cupbability have nothing to do with Trump.

I was critical of the Obama administration for not doing enough to counter Assad. 

 

We do have a small presence in Syria that has helped others eradicate ISIS and has checked Assad in some of the humanitarian disaster.

 

Syria is one area I have not been critical of Trump about. He did point the finger at Assad and Russia, Iran as the cause in his Sunday tweet storm.

 

 

Edited April 8, 2018 by Il Mango Dulce

[Neonred 3,562]

My son in law, in the US army, left today for Syria.  Did not have anything to do with this attack as it was a planned deployment.

[jg121783 3,915]

We have no business being in Syria and this is one thing I disagree with Trump on. He had indicated that he wanted to get us out but he blindly trusts the military so much that some of the hawkish advisors he has are misdirecting him. As far as the gas attack goes I just dont see Assad's motive and it wouldn't be the first false flag attack in world history. Assad is not a great person but look what happened in Libya when we removed the evil dictator and left a power vacuum in his place. I am not an isolationist but I also don't believe we should be the world's police.

[OriZ 3,157]

11 hours ago, jg121783 said:

the so called rebels (terrorists).

[Cyberfx1024 7,980]

29 minutes ago, OriZ said:

The FSA is nothing but terrorists now in the beginning they were moderates but the extremists got the funding and push/killed everyone else