RAMALLAH
A senior Israeli defense official confirmed Monday that the Syrian army had used chemical agents against opposition forces in eastern Damascus last month.
The official said that the Syrian army used the chemicals in two attacks on March 27 in the Jobar neighborhood in eastern Damascus.
"The substance that the Syrian police force used caused breathing problems," the official was quoted as saying by Israel Radio. "They have no medicine except for basic respiratory aides."
The Syrian opposition had accused the Assad's regime of using poison gas in the Jobar neighborhood, with activists circulating footage of a man lying on a bed and being treated by medics.
There was no claim from the Syrian regime on the claims.
Last August, the Syrian opposition and the United States had accused the Assad's regime of launching a chemical attack in the Ghouta region near Damascus, which reportedly killed more than 1,600 civilians, including women and children.
Damascus had denied the accusations and had agreed to surrender its arsenal of chemical weapons in an effort to avoid a U.S military strike.
By Abdel-Raouf Arnaout
englishnews@aa.com.tr
