OPCW conclude Syrian government responsible for 2018 Douma attack

The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) concluded on Friday (01.27.2023) that the Syrian government is responsible for the 2018 chemical attack on the city of Douma, where 43 people died.

According to the report, the attack was carried out by at least one Syrian army helicopter which dropped two barrels of toxic gas in the city located near the capital Damascus during the civil war.

“The use of chemical weapons in Douma is unacceptable and constitutes a violation of international law,” said OPCW Director General Fernando Arias in the statement.

The Syrian and Russian governments had previously claimed the attack was a farce by the rebels and rescue teams commissioned by the United States, which days later carried out airstrikes in Syria along with Britain and France.

The OPCW report comes after years of investigations in Syria over the conflict’s possible category-one crimes, ‘namely war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide’, according to its director-general.

Douma had been under rebel control prior to the attack, which was conducted during a major offensive by the Syrian government forces to regain control of the city.