OPCW ‘Disturbed’ by Claims of Chemical Weapons Use in Syria’s Aleppo

The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) is "disturbed" by the recent claims of chemical weapons’ use in Syria’s Aleppo province, the organization said in a statement on Wednesday.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — On Tuesday, media reports emerged suggesting that Syrian activists and rescue workers are blaming the government forces for an alleged chemical attack in Aleppo. A suspected chlorine bomb was dropped on the city, reportedly injuring dozens.

"We are disturbed by the recent allegations of the use of toxic chemicals in Aleppo. Such allegations are taken very seriously by the OPCW. The use of chemical weapons by anyone, anywhere and under any circumstances is unacceptable," OPCW Director-General Ahmet Uzumcu said, as quoted in the statement on the organization’s website.

According to the statement, the OPCW is continuing its work on establishing facts of chemical weapons use in Syria and will present a report for consideration to the states which are parties to the Chemical Weapons Convention.

In August 2015, the UN Security Council authorized the launch of the Joint Investigative Mechanism (JIM) to identify people involved in the use of chemical weapons in Syria.

On August 24, 2016, the United Nations and the OPCW released the results of a joint probe into chemical weapons attacks in Syria in 2014 and 2015, according to which Damascus forces were allegedly involved in two and Islamic States terrorists in one chemical weapon attacks. The mission's mandate is due to end on September 23 and the group is expected to prepare one more report by this time.