BRUSSELS, April 12 (KUNA) -- The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) Monday accused the Syrian Air Force of dropping chlorine gas in 2018 in eastern Saraqib.
This was stated in the findings of the second report by the OPCW Investigation and Identification Team (IIT) released at the Hague where the OPCW is situated.
The IIT is responsible for identifying the perpetrators of the use of chemical weapons in the Syrian Arab Republic where the OPCW Fact-Finding Mission (FFM) has determined that chemical weapons have been used or likely used in Syria. The IIT released its first report on 8 April 2020.
The report said that it "reached the conclusion that there are reasonable grounds to believe that, at approximately 21:22 on 4 February 2018, a military helicopter of the Syrian Arab Air Force under the control of the Tiger Forces hit eastern Saraqib by dropping at least one cylinder. The cylinder ruptured and released chlorine over a large area, affecting 12 named individuals." The IITآ’s investigation and analysis included a comprehensive review of all the information obtained including: interviews with persons who were present in the relevant places at the time of the incidents, analysis of samples and remnants collected at the sites of the incidents, it added. (end) nk