UN report confirms use of sarin in Syria’s chemical attacks

After investigation, the United Nations has reported that sarin was in fact used in Syria’s chemical weapons attack. The report said there was “clear and convincing evidence that surface-to-surface rockets containing the nerve agent sarin were used in Ein Tarma.”

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said chemical weapons “were used on a relatively large scale,” and added that it was “the most significant confirmed use of chemical weapons against civilians since Saddam Hussein used them in Halabja in 1988.”

“This is a war crime and a grave violation of the1925 Protocol and other rules of customary international law. I trust all can join me in condemning this despicable crime. The international community has a responsibility to hold the perpetrators accountable and to ensure that chemical weapons never re-emerge as an instrument of warfare.”

The U.S. Ambassador to the U.N., Samantha Power, said the report also backs the U.S. opinion that Assad’s regime was responsible for the attack, and also said that there is “no evidence that the opposition possesses sarin.” Britain, France and NATO have all also confirmed their position that al-Assad’s regime was responsible. However, Vitaly Churchkin, the U.N. Ambassador for Russia, continued to support Russia’s belief that Syrian rebels may have been behind the attack.