MOSCOW (Sputnik) – On January 4, the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) announced that all chemical weapons in Syria had been destroyed, however, in April reports emerged that radical militants could be using and producing chemical weapons in Syria.
"Among the weapons used by the armed groups are unguided projectiles which cannot be accurately aimed at specific targets, including home-made ‘Hamim’ rockets and projectiles fitted with gas canisters known as ‘hell cannons’," the rights group said in a Friday release.
According to AI, the attacks "possibly including with chemical weapons" have destroyed civilian homes, markets and mosques in the city and have killed and injured civilians.
Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG) stated that the Ahrar ash-Sham Islamist group shelled the Sheikh Maqsoud neighborhood using white or yellow phosphorus munitions. At the same time, the Jaish al-Islam group has stated that it had deployed "forbidden" weapons.
A doctor told AI that he treated six civilians and two YPG fighters in April for symptoms including shortness of breath, numbness, red eyes and severe coughing fits.
"He said that several of the victims reported seeing yellow smoke as missiles impacted," the group reported on Friday, adding that a toxicologist who viewed video clips of the apparent attack and reviewed the doctor’s testimony, said the patients’ symptoms "could be the effects of a chlorine attack."
Syria has been mired in civil war since 2011, with government forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar Assad fighting numerous opposition factions and extremist groups. A US-Russia-brokered ceasefire came into force across Syria on February 27, but it does not apply to terrorist organizations active in the country.
