Syria
Live coverage of the conflict in Syria, including the international response to the Aug. 21 2013 chemical attack. For our current live blog on Syria, go to: http://live.reuters.com/Event/The_battle_for_Syria
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This is a 2013 blog on Syria - for the latest updates from Reuters please go to our current live blog 'The battle for Syria'.
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ISTANBUL - A leading Syrian opposition figure says 1,300 people had been killed in attacks by President Bashar al-Assad's forces around Damascus in which he said chemical weapons had been used.
"Today's crimes are...not the first time the regime has used chemical weapons," George Sabra told a news conference in Istanbul. "But they constitute a significant turning point in the regime's operations...This time it was for annihilation rather than terror."
Syria denied activist reports on Wednesday that the army had used chemical weapons, describing the assertions as completely untrue. Video footage from districts east of the capital showed people choking, some of them foaming at the mouth, and many bodies with no signs of injuries. -
The European Union calls for "immediate and thorough" investigation of alleged chemical attack in Syria, an EU foreign policy spokesman says.
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A youth who survived from what activists say is a gas attack cries as he takes shelter inside a mosque in the Duma neighbourhood of Damascus August 21, 2013. REUTERS/Mohamed Abdullah
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Survivors from what activists say is a gas attack are seen along a street in the Duma neighbourhood of Damascus August 21, 2013. REUTERS/Bassam Khabieh
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Last year, U.S. President Barack Obama said the use of chemical weapons in Syria would constitute a "red line." If today's reports are confirmed - which in the past Washington has suggested would require clear-cut evidence - the question remains what action the U.S. will take, if any.
Reports of an alleged chemical attack in April did not result in action against the Syrian government, however in June Obama decided to arm the opposition with automatic weapons, light mortars, and rocket-propelled grenades.
Confirming reports of chemical weapons use is difficult, in part due to the Syrian opposition's interest in receiving military support from Washington. Memories of faulty information that led the U.S. to war in Iraq have contributed to making Washington leery of being sucked into Syria's civil war. However, the U.S. may face criticism if Obama's ultimatum is not enforced. -
EU Wants Immediate Probe Of Alleged Syria Chemical Attack
BRUSSELS - The European Union called for a "thorough and immediate" investigation of an alleged chemical attack in Syria after Syrian rebels said hundreds of people were killed on Wednesday in a gas attack and shelling by President Bashar al-Assad's forces.
"We have seen with grave concern the reports of the possible use of chemical weapons by the Syrian regime. Such accusations should be immediately and thoroughly investigated," a spokesman for EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said.
"The EU reiterates that any use of chemical weapons, by any side in Syria, would be totally unacceptable."
(Reporting by Justyna Pawlak; Editing by John O'donnell) -
The Syrian National Coalition posted a statement to its English-language Facebook account on Wednesday.
Here is an excerpt:
"The Syrian Coalition calls upon the Security Council of the United Nations to hold an emergency session on the latest Assad crimes against the Syrian people. We urge the Security Council to condemn Assad's crimes and issue a resolution under Chapter VII of the UN Charter pertaining to maintaining international peace and security to which Assad has undoubtedly become the biggest threat.
"The Syrian Coalition emphasizes that the Security Council's failure to assume its responsibilities towards the unfolding situation in Syria would raise questions about its raison d'être. If the Security Council does not act firmly, it will lose all legitimacy.
"Assad forces have committed clear massacres against hundreds of unarmed and defenseless civilians, shelling the eastern and western Ghouta areas with chemical agents. The Syrian Coalition calls upon the Friends of Syria to act immediately and not wait for the Russian veto to once again cover up Assad’s crimes. Countries who claim to be friends of Syria must come together to put an end to the Syrian tragedy by immediately restraining Assad’s crimes.
"The Syrian Coalition calls on the United Nation’s chemical weapons investigation team to head immediately towards the locations in Ghouta where Assad forces have used chemical weapons. Reports by activists in Ghouta have documented the death of around 1100 people due to chemical weapons attacks. Hundreds more are suffering from symptoms of exposure to chemical agents. Many of the victims are women and children. The UN team must visit these places, which are only a few kilometers away from where the team is based in the capital Damascus. We ask that the UN team visit Ghouta within the next few hours, listen to people’s testimonies, and gather necessary evidence."
Continue reading the statement on Facebook: www.facebook.com -
READER COMMENT: Any death is a tragedy and chemical weapons are just as indiscriminant as a mortar shell. I am heartened by the idea that perhaps this barbaric act will finally draw action from the international community but I cannot help but wonder what message the Syrian people would take from that. It is though we are telling the victims “it is not your death, not the deaths of thousands, but rather the _manner_ of your death, which interests us and demands justice.” -
Video: After an alleged chemical weapons attack on Ein Tarma, Zamalka, and Jobar overnight, the Damascus neighbourhood of Jobar was reportedly hit by rocket fire on August 21.
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Video: statement from Jobar's Medical Point regarding events that took place at the early hours of dawn on August 21.
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The Associated Press writes on the conflicting accounts on Wednesday about Syria, including international diplomatic responses: "there were conflicting reports, however, as to what exactly transpired. Syria's Information Minister called the activists' claim a 'disillusioned and fabricated one whose objective is to deviate and mislead' the U.N. mission."
READ: Syrian Activists Claim Deadly Attack -
Statement from the Amnesty International’s Deputy Director for the Middle East and North Africa Hassiba Hadj Sahraoui: “The allegations of use of chemical weapons against Syrian civilians, which Amnesty International has not been able to verify independently, underscore the urgent need for the United Nations team currently in Syria to have a full mandate and unimpeded access to all locations to investigate these and any other incidents of alleged use of chemical weapons. What would be the point of having a UN team of experts in the country if they are not allowed to access the sites of the alleged attacks, collect samples and investigate?”
READ: Syria: UN team must get full access to investigate ‘chemical weapons’ claim -
Official statement, United Nations' spokesperson for the Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon on the alleged use of chemical weapons in Syria
"The Secretary-General is shocked to hear the reports of the alleged use today of chemical weapons in the suburbs of Damascus.
"Professor Åke Sellström and his team are currently in the Syrian Arab Republic to investigate the alleged use of chemical weapons reported by the Government of Syria at Khan al-Assal as well as two other allegations of the use of chemical weapons reported by Member States. According to the agreement reached in Damascus in July, the two parties are discussing, in parallel, other allegations and their related sites.
"The United Nations mission to investigate allegations of chemical weapons use in Syria is following the current situation in Syria carefully, and remains fully engaged in the investigation process that is mandated by the Secretary General. Professor Sellström is in discussions with the Syrian Government on all issues pertaining to the alleged use of chemical weapons, including this most recent reported incident.
"The Secretary-General is aware that a number of Member States, the Arab League and the European Union have expressed grave concern about the most recent reports of the possible use of chemical weapons in Syria. The Secretary-General reaffirms his determination to ensure a thorough investigation of the reported alleged incidents that are brought to his attention by Member States.
"The Secretary-General reiterates that any use of chemical weapons by any side under any circumstances would violate international humanitarian law." -
Summary: White House statements on Syria on Wednesday, August 21
The White House says it has no independent verification about the use of chemical weapons in Syria, and that the U.S. plans to consult the U.N. Security Council about the allegations.
Earlier on Wednesday, the White House has expressed alarm about reports that Syrian government forces used chemical weapons in an attack on civilians and called for a United Nations investigation into the incident. Read the full White House statement here: live.reuters.com -
Reuters Picture: Children who survived what activists and government opposition groups allege is a gas attack are seen here in the Duma neighborhood of Damascus, Syria on August 21, 2013. REUTERS/Bassam Khabieh
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Video: UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon is “shocked” by the alleged use of chemical weapons in the Damascus suburbs on Wednesday, August 21, according to a spokesperson during the daily press briefing.
Wednesday’s reports of chemical weapons killing hundreds in the Ghouta region come amid a UN investigation into chemical warfare in the Syrian conflict. This video shows the noon briefing by Eduardo del Buey, Deputy Spokesperson for the Secretary-General. Video available courtesy of UN Web TV. -
State Dept: Reports say UN team has been in touch with Syria over the attack, team must have access to witnesses, samples, for investigationby HannahAllam via twitter edited by Margarita Noriega (Reuters) 8/21/2013 5:59:43 PM -
State Dept: I'm not talking about red lines, not having debate about red lines, not setting red lines, let's not talk about red.by HannahAllam via twitter edited by Margarita Noriega (Reuters) 8/21/2013 6:04:22 PM
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Reader note: in about 52 minutes from now, at the top of the hour, the U.N. Security Council will have an emergency meeting to discuss the recent alleged reports of chemical weapons use in Syria.
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READER COMMENT: After having to experience this horrific gas attack, the Syrian civilians NEED the international community to intervene. This event represents what shows to be a disturbingly significant escalation of the inhumanity being inflicted upon the people of Syria. -
Russia says has no plans to use military force in Syria, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Monday.
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Indian daily newspaper The Hindu calls for an independent investigation of the alleged chemical weapons attack before the U.S. takes military action:
The alleged use of WMDs in Syria must not be made a pretext for illegal intervention. There is no basis in international law for drawing “red lines” — as U.S. President Barack Obama has done — the crossing of which would permit the unilateral use of force without U.N. Security Council authorisation.
Read the full editorial here. -
Syrian opposition says peace talks are off the table
An international peace conference on Syria, planned to be held in Geneva, is off the table for now following an alleged chemical weapons attack in Damascus, a senior member of Syria's opposition coalition said on Monday. Members of the Syrian National Coalition met representatives of the "Friends of Syria", a group of Western and Arab nations opposed to President Bashar al-Assad, in Istanbul on Monday in a meeting originally meant to discuss plans for the conference.
"It (the meeting) was for Geneva but we refused to speak about Geneva after what's happened ... We must punish this dictator, Bashar the Chemist we call him, and then we can discuss Geneva," coalition Secretary General Badr Jamous told Reuters after the meeting. Syria's opposition accused government forces of gassing hundreds of people by firing rockets that released deadly fumes over rebel-held Damascus suburbs on Aug. 21, killing men, women and children as they slept.
(Reporting by Dasha Afanasieva; Writing by Nick Tattersall) -
Reuters Picture: U.N. chemical weapons experts visit a hospital where wounded people affected by an apparent gas attack are being treated, in the southwestern Damascus suburb of Mouadamiya, on August 26, 2013.
U.N. chemical weapons inspectors in Syria met and took samples from victims of an apparent poison gas attack in the rebel-held suburb of Damascus on Monday after the U.N. team themselves survived a sniper attack that hit a vehicle in their convoy. REUTERS/Abo Alnour Alhaji -
Video: UN inspectors reportedly visited a hospital in the Damascus suburb of Moadamiyeh on August 26 to interview doctors who received victims of the alleged August 21 chemical attack in eastern Ghouta.
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Reuters Wire: U.N. chief Ban Ki-Moon is confident U.N. chemical experts can get evidence on Syria gas attack reports, despite the amount of time that has passed since the initial reports: spokespersonby Reuters World via twitter edited by Margarita Noriega (Reuters) 8/26/2013 4:40:10 PM -
Julia Ioffe, Editor at the New Republic, tweets: "I'm hearing [U.S. Secretary of State John] Kerry will not announce any decision, will only make a statement on Syria."by ioffeinmoscow via twitter edited by Margarita Noriega (Reuters) 8/26/2013 4:45:53 PM -
Reuters Picture: A U.N. chemical weapons expert gathers evidence at one of the sites of an alleged poison gas attack in the southwestern Damascus suburb of Mouadamiya, on August 26, 2013.
The United Nations said on Monday it was still possible for the U.N. team of chemical weapons experts to gather evidence necessary to investigate last week's alleged gas attack despite the lapse of time. REUTERS/Ahmad Alshami -
Reader note: in about 20 minutes, we will have live video of U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry's remarks on Syria. Have a question we can help answer? Want to share your thoughts? We welcome you to share with us using the "share" and "comment" options above.
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Reuters Picture: U.N. chemical weapons experts visit people affected by an apparent gas attack, at a hospital in the southwestern Damascus suburb of Mouadamiya, on August 26, 2013. REUTERS/Abo Alnour Alhaji
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Chaos: Multiple activists in the Syrian city of Aleppo reported strikes against the rebel-held district of al-Fardos on August 26. This video, uploaded by the prominent media activist group Shahba Press, show what are described as the first images of casualties and damage following the strikes. (Mild Graphic Warning for images of injured persons)
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Reader note: Kerry's 2pm ET statement has been postponed to 2:30pm ET (in about 20 minutes)
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READER COMMENT: No way Assad did it. After having so many advancements in the battlefield, why would he risk it all by using chemical weapons?
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Readers, I'm about to share some incredible pictures with you from our Reuters Pictures service that show an improvised weapons factory in Syria.
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Reuters Picture: A member of the "Free Men of Syria" (Ahrar Suriya) brigade, operating under the Free Syrian Army, works to make improvised weapons as homemade rockets are seen in the foreground at a factory in Aleppo countryside August 26, 2013. REUTERS/Muzaffar Salman
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Reuters Picture: A member of the "Free Men of Syria" (Ahrar Suriya) brigade, operating under the Free Syrian Army, works to make improvised weapons at a factory in Aleppo countryside August 26, 2013. REUTERS/Muzaffar Salman
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Reuters Picture: A member of the "Free Men of Syria" (Ahrar Suriya) brigade, operating under the Free Syrian Army, works on an improvised mortar shell at a factory in Aleppo countryside, August 26, 2013. REUTERS/Muzaffar Salman
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Reuters' Alexandra Hudson reports: Syrian President Bashar al-Assad would not be "so stupid" as to use chemical weapons close to Damascus, Saleh Muslim, head of the Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD), said. Muslim doubted Assad would resort to using such weapons when he felt he had the upper hand in the country's civil war.
He suggested last Wednesday's attack, which the opposition says was carried out by government forces and killed hundreds of people, was aimed at framing Assad and provoking an international reaction. Assad has denied his forces used chemical weapons.
"The regime in Syria ... has chemical weapons, but they wouldn't use them around Damascus, 5 km from the (U.N.) committee which is investigating chemical weapons. Of course they are not so stupid as to do so," Muslim told Reuters.
READ: Syrian Kurdish leader says Assad not to blame for attack -
READER COMMENT: What is the objective of a response? I keep hearing the situation merits a response. Is this just a response for the sake of responding instead of doing nothing? We going to strike Assad's personal gardens? Why not send in some seals to give him a bare butt spanking? Carney keeps dodging the question about what our goal is with a response. -
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A Reuters correspondent in Syria, whose name has been withheld for security reasons, reports on the mood in Damascus:
Shops in Damascus are open, and traffic chokes the main thoroughfares, but the mood in the capital, exhausted by more than two years of civil war, is growing restive as Syria faces the prospect of a military strike by Western powers.
Despite the bustle of daily life in those areas of the city not directly caught up in conflict, there is apprehension at what foreign intervention would look like but also hope.
"The big fear is that they'll make the same mistakes they made in Libya and Iraq. They'll hit civilian targets, and then they'll cry that it was by mistake, but we'll get killed in the thousands," said Ziyad, a man in his fifties.
Read the full article here. -
The State Department press briefing has changed subject and spokesperson Marie Harf is now discussing Egypt. You can watch the live feed here.
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Video: Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem told a Damascus news conference on August 27 that “no country in the world uses weapons of mass destruction against its own people”. According to the news bulletin here, al-Moallem said in the event of a military strike against it, Syria would “defend [itself] with all available means”.
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Syria chemical attack threatens our security - UK's Hague
LONDON - Britain's national security will be undermined if it fails to challenge the Syrian government over the use of chemical weapons against its own people, Foreign Secretary William Hague said on Wednesday.
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