Suspected chemical attack in Syria draws attention of international community

By Azernews

By Kamila Aliyeva

The recent suspected use of chemical weapons in the city of Idlib of Syrian Arab Republic shows failure of international community to find a political solution of the six-year conflict and casts doubts on the benefits of all international talks and negotiations held recently without actual breakthrough. 

The UN Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic has begun investigating reports of an alleged chemical attack in the province of Idlib and the subsequent attack on the hospital, RIA Novosti reported citing a statement released by the Commission on April 4.

"Concerns have been raised about reports that indicate that this attack was committed using chemical weapons, and the Commission is currently investigating the circumstances surrounding the attack, including reports on the possible use of chemical weapons, as well as the subsequent attack on the medical institution where the wounded received help," the statement said.

The Commission emphasizes that "the use of chemical weapons, as well as a targeted attack on a medical institution, can be regarded as war crimes and constitute serious violations of international humanitarian law."

It is extremely important to find and punish those who are behind these attacks, according to the statement.

"The fact-finding mission of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), which is currently operating in Syria, and the independent Joint Investigative Mechanism, in addition to the Commission of Inquiry in Syria, should receive full support in order to investigate the incident," the statement said.

The National Coalition of Opposition and Revolutionary Forces of Syria (NCDC) reported about 80 victims of chemical attack in Khan Sheikhun city of Idlib province and 200 wounded. The oppositionists blamed the government troops of Syria for the attack.

The Syrian military said it “categorically denied” responsibility. In response, a source of the Syrian Armed Forces told RIA Novosti that the Syrian army does not possess any chemical weapons, and the opposition's statements can be part of a propaganda action against the government army.

The world community has already reacted to what had happened in Idlib. Thus, the Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu called the use of chemical weapons in Syrian Idlib a crime against humanity, and stated that the perpetrators must be punished.

Despite the fact that all borders have been crossed, the West demonstrates indifference towards what is happening, according to the Turkish minister.

"I am sure that those who are trying to teach us a lesson on human rights will try to hide the chemical attack while this is unacceptable for us and can negate the political settlement in Syria," Cavusoglu said.

"We strongly condemn the attack from the regime in the city of Khan Sheikhun, where dozens of people died, most of them are children, indicating that the regime continues to use chemical weapons, openly violating UN Security Council resolutions 2118 and 2209,” the official statement of theTurkish Foreign Ministry said.

The United States also commented on the recent events in Syria as Donald Trump denounced the attack as a “heinous” act that “cannot be ignored by the civilized world.” But he also laid some of the responsibility on Barack Obama, saying in a statement that the attack was “a consequence of the past administration’s weakness and irresolution”.

"Today's chemical attack in Syria on innocent people, including women and children, are worthy of condemnation and cannot be ignored by the civilized world," official spokesman for White House Sean Spicer said.

The United States urges Russia and Iran to exert pressure on Syrian President Bashar Assad, U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said, commenting on the recent chemical attacks.

“While we continue to monitor the terrible situation, it is obvious that this is how Bashar Assad acts: with cruel and frank barbarism and those who defend and support it, including Russia and Iran, should not have any illusions about Assad or his intentions," the statement of the U.S. Secretary of State said.

As the self-proclaimed guarantors of the ceasefire, Russia and Iran also bear a huge moral responsibility for these deaths, the Secretary of State added.

On April 5, the UN Security Council is expected to discuss the situation in Syria's Idlib, where chemical weapons were reportedly used, the U.S. permanent representative to the UN (the chairman of the Council in April) Nikki Hailey said earlier.

This attack will refocus attention on the failure of the international community to prevent the worst abuses in Syria’s war. 

Armed conflict continues in Syria since March 2011. Government troops are confronted by militants of different armed rebel groups. Russia has begun airstrikes on terrorist facilities in Syria since September 30, 2015. The Russian military involvement follows an official request from President Bashar Assad to President Vladimir Putin.

The UN has repeatedly tried and failed to end the Syrian conflict, which has killed 300,000 and displaced 11 million since it began five years ago.