Using chemical weapons in Syria raised Ukraine’s concerns
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Western officials have warned that Russia may use chemical weapons in Syria after the high Russian causalities in Ukraine.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, in a speech to the Estonian parliament on Wednesday, accused Russia of “using phosphorous bombs in Ukraine”, without providing evidence, coinciding with unverified reports said that Russia used internationally prohibited weapons in the besieged Mariupol city.
The Associated Press said in a report on Wednesday: “concerns are growing that Russia may use chemical weapons during its war in Ukraine after using them in Syria several years ago.”
The report indicated that Russia and Assad regime used chemical weapons dozens of times during Syria’s civil war, killing hundreds of civilians including children and women.
The report noted that the war in Syria constituted a horrific precedent by using chlorine and Sarin as Russia completely ignored the international law.
Russia and the Assad regime launched multiple chemical attacks in Syria, including the use of chlorine and sarin in an attack on Khan Sheikhoun town in April 2017 that killed about 100 people.
By August 2014, the Assad regime declared that the destruction of its chemical weapons was completed. But Syria’s initial declaration to the OPCW has remained in dispute, and the attacks continued.
