If there had ever been a lingering doubt that chemical weapons were ever used in Syria, causing the deaths of hundreds of civilians in an attack in suburban Damascus on August 21, let the report of the United Nations analysts put those doubts to rest.
Yes, chemical weapons were used. Yes, they were used on a relatively large scale. And yes, remnants of munitions found on the ground show how the sarin gas was delivered. It must be stressed that the UN team that collected samples on the ground in eastern Damascus and subsequently carried out laboratory and scientific analysis of those was not asked to apportion blame.
The diplomatic and military manoeuvres of the past three weeks have demonstrated that the US believes the regime of President Bashar Al Assad was responsible for deploying chemical weapons — that may well indeed be the case — but the UN’s only conclusion is that the weaponry was used.
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has rightly described the use of the weaponry as a war crime. The report from the UN team says the timing of the firing of the lethal shells was meant to maximise the casualty toll with the temperatures at the time causing the sarin to lie at ground level for a longer period. But what now?
Sadly, the Middle East has seen these weapons used before, with chemical weapons being unleashed by Saddam Hussain on restive and rebellious Kurds in Halabja in 1988. Chemical weapons were also used during the Iran-Iraq war.
Israel had used white phosphorous — that causes severe burning right down to the bone — against Palestinians during its 2009 war on Gaza. The events of the past month show that chemical weapons are immoral and illegal and using them constitutes a war crime. This report should be enough impetus for all nations — especially those in this region who possess such munitions — to end the scourge once and for all. Humanity deserves better.
