Report: The Syrian Elite Force used chemical weapons in 2018

The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) announced in The Hague the results of its two-year investigation into the use of chemical warfare agents in the opposition-held Syrian city of Douma. 43 people were killed in 2018.

A statement published yesterday said, “At least one helicopter belonging to the” Syrian Tigers “dropped two yellow cylinders of toxic chlorine gas on two residential buildings in a civilian-populated area in Douma, killing 43 people and injuring dozens.” Report summary. The “Tiger” unit is an elite force in the Syrian army.

International Call Systems

The United States, Britain, France and Germany issued a joint statement yesterday stating that “Our governments condemn in the strongest terms the Syrian regime’s repeated use of these horrific weapons and stand by our demands that the Assad regime immediately comply with its obligations under the Chemical Weapons Convention.” (CWC) and relevant Security Council resolutions relevance.”

The attack on Douma on April 7, 2018 was part of a major military offensive by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s forces on the then rebel stronghold. An earlier investigation by the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons had already found in 2019 that chemical weapons had been used. However, this investigation had no mandate to find or name the perpetrator. The published findings are based on further investigations between January 2021 and December 2022.