Assad regime carried out 215 chemical attacks in Syria

By Adham Kako

ANKARA

The Bashar al-Assad regime, which claimed to have destroyed its stock of chemical weapons, continues unfettered attacks on Syrian civilians. Since the beginning of the civil war, the regime forces have carried out 215 chemical attacks.

The attacks are an attempt to force civilians out of opposition-held areas.

It is evident by the latest attack in Eastern Ghouta's Douma district on Saturday, that the regime has stockpiled chemical weapons.

Similar chemical attacks were carried out by the regime in Eastern Ghouta in 2013 and Khan Sheikhoun in 2017.

Also in 2016, chemical attacks were carried out to expel civilians at neighbourhoods in Aleppo's center.

Aug. 21, 2013 Eastern Ghouta massacre

The regime used chemical weapons in Eastern Ghouta on Aug. 21, 2013. As a result at least 1,400 civilians were killed. In addition, a large number of civilians, especially women and children, were affected by the chemical attack.

After this the U.S. was expected to intervene in Syria. However, Russia avoided the American intervention after the regime said it will destroy its chemical weapon stock. An agreement was reached on Sep. 15, 2013.

The weapons were destroyed as the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) came into play. The organization announced the destruction process ended on Aug. 19, 2014.

However, the organization destroyed only the stocks the regime had revealed. The latest attack is evidence that the regime managed to hide some chemical weapons.

April 4, 2017 Khan Sheikhoun attack

At least 100 civilians were killed in a chemical weapon attack by the regime in Idlib's Khan Sheikhoun on April 4, 2017.

A large part of Khan Sheikhoun residents were sleeping during the attack which occurred in the early morning hours.

The opposition reported Syrian fighter jets, and thought they were the usual air strikes. But when the bombings did not result in any bleeding or scars, it was understood that it was a chemical attack.

April 7, 2018 Eastern Ghouta chemical attack

White Helmets civil defense agency teams announced 40 civilians were killed in a chemical attack by the Assad regime in Eastern Ghouta's Douma region.

The civilian death toll rose to 78 from Saturday's chemical attack by the Syrian regime in Douma, a district of Eastern Ghouta, local doctors said on Sunday.

Assad regime used chemical weapon 215 times

The Syrian Network for Human Rights (SNHR) announced in a report on April 4, 2018 that the regime has carried out 11 chemical attacks since the Khan Sheikhoun attack.

The U.K-based NGO said in its report that the regime has carried out 214 chemical attacks across the country since the beginning of the civil war in 2011.

Saturday's attack is the 215th.

The report said the regime forces have so far carried out 45 attacks in Idlib, 29 in Hama, 27 in Aleppo, seven in Homs, four in Daraa and three in Deir-ez-Zor.