Exclusive - Assad linked to Syrian chemical attacks for first time

[rooster59]

Exclusive - Assad linked to Syrian chemical attacks for first time

By Anthony Deutsch

 

Syria's President Bashar al-Assad speaks to French journalists in Damascus, Syria, in this handout picture provided by SANA on January 9, 2017. SANA/Handout via REUTERS/File

 

(Reuters) - International investigators have said for the first time that they suspect President Bashar al-Assad and his brother are responsible for the use of chemical weapons in the Syrian conflict, according to a document seen by Reuters.

 

A joint inquiry for the United Nations and global watchdog the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) had previously identified only military units and did not name any commanders or officials.

 

Now a list has been produced of individuals whom the investigators have linked to a series of chlorine bomb attacks in 2014-15 - including Assad, his younger brother Maher and other high-ranking figures - indicating the decision to use toxic weapons came from the very top, according to a source familiar with the inquiry.

 

The Assads could not be reached for comment but a Syrian government official said accusations that government forces had used chemical weapons had "no basis in truth". The government has repeatedly denied using such weapons during the civil war, which is almost six years old, saying all the attacks highlighted by the inquiry were the work of rebels or the Islamic State militant group.

 

The list, which has been seen by Reuters but has not been made public, was based on a combination of evidence compiled by the U.N.-OPCW team in Syria and information from Western and regional intelligence agencies, according to the source, who declined to be identified due to the sensitivity of the issue.

 

Reuters was unable to independently review the evidence or to verify it.

 

The U.N.-OPCW inquiry - known as the Joint Investigative Mechanism (JIM) - is led by a panel of three independent experts, supported by a team of technical and administrative staff. It is mandated by the U.N. Security Council to identify individuals and organisations responsible for chemical attacks in Syria.

 

Virginia Gamba, the head of the Joint Investigative Mechanism, denied any list of individual suspects had yet been compiled by the inquiry.

"There are no ... identification of individuals being considered at this time," she told Reuters by email.

 

The use of chemical weapons is banned under international law and could constitute a war crime.

 

While the inquiry has no judicial powers, any naming of suspects could lead to their prosecution. Syria is not a member of the International Criminal Court (ICC), but alleged war crimes could be referred to the court by the Security Council - although splits among global powers over the war make this a distant prospect at present.

 

"The ICC is concerned about any country where crimes are reported to be committed," a spokesman for the court said when asked for comment. "Unless Syria accepts the ICC jurisdiction, the only way that (the) ICC would have jurisdiction over the situation would be through a referral by the Security Council."

 

The list seen by Reuters could form the basis for the inquiry team's investigations this year, according to the source. It is unclear whether the United Nations or OPCW will publish the list separately.

 

'HIGHEST LEVELS'

 

The list identifies 15 people "to be scrutinized in relation to use of CW (chemical weapons) by Syrian Arab Republic Armed Forces in 2014 and 2015". It does not specify what role they are suspected of playing, but lists their titles.

 

It is split into three sections. The first, titled "Inner Circle President" lists six people including Assad, his brother who commands the elite 4th Armoured Division, the defence minister and the head of military intelligence.

 

The second section names the air force chief as well as four commanders of air force divisions. They include the heads of the 22nd Air Force Division and the 63rd Helicopter Brigade, units that the inquiry has previously said dropped chlorine bombs.

 

The third part of the list - "Other relevant Senior Mil Personnel" - names two colonels and two major-generals.

 

Hamish de Bretton-Gordon, an independent specialist in biological and chemical weapons who monitors Syria, told Reuters the list reflected the military chain of command.

 

"The decisions would be made at the highest levels initially and then delegated down. Hence the first use would need to be authorised by Assad," said de Bretton-Gordon, a former commander of British and NATO chemical and biological defence divisions who frequently visits Syria for professional consultancy work.

 

The Syrian defence ministry and air force could not be reached for comment.

 

CHLORINE BARREL BOMBS

 

Syria joined the international Chemical Weapons Convention under a U.S.-Russian deal that followed the deaths of hundreds of civilians in a sarin gas attack in Ghouta on the outskirts of Damascus in August 2013.

 

It was the deadliest use of chemicals in global warfare since the 1988 Halabja massacre at the end of the Iran-Iraq war, which killed at least 5,000 people in Iraqi Kurdistan.

 

The Syrian government, which denied its forces were behind the Ghouta attack, also agreed to hand over its declared stockpile of 1,300 tonnes of toxic weaponry and dismantle its chemical weapons programme under international supervision.

 

The United Nations and OPCW have been investigating whether Damascus is adhering to its commitments under the agreement, which averted the threat of U.S.-led military intervention.

 

The bodies appointed the panel of experts to conduct the inquiry, and its mandate runs until November. The panel published a report in October last year which said Syrian government forces used chemical weapons at least three times in 2014-2015 and that Islamic State used mustard gas in 2015.

 

The October report identified Syria's 22nd Air Force Division and 63rd Helicopter Brigade as having dropped chlorine bombs and said people "with effective control in the military units ... must be held accountable".

 

The source familiar with the inquiry said the October report had clearly established the institutions responsible and that the next step was to go after the individuals.

 

Washington on Thursday blacklisted 18 senior Syrian officials based on the U.N.-OPCW inquiry's October report - some of whom also appear on the list seen by Reuters - but not Assad or his brother.

 

The issue of chemical weapons use in Syria has become a deeply political one, and the U.N.-OPCW inquiry's allegations of chlorine bomb attacks by government forces have split the U.N. Security Council's veto-wielding members.

 

The United States, Britain and France have called for sanctions against Syria, while Assad's ally Russia has said the evidence presented is insufficient to justify such measures.

 

A Security Council resolution would be required to bring Assad and other senior Syrian officials before the International Criminal Court for any possible war crimes prosecution - something Russia would likely block.

 

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2017-01-14

[craigt3365]

He should be prosecuted for war crimes.  Immediately.  Though I know it will take 20 years for anything to happen.  Sadly.

[ezzra]

Exclusive!!!!! he's been doing it for years now  killing his own people on a

wholesale scale, but only NOW, someone woke up to it.... why now?

wait until the number of dead will reach 1 million and than act...

Did someone said Rwanda all over again?.....

[craigt3365]

Really sad the world community doesn't do things to stop these humanitarian disasters.

[tartempion]

Assad is simply a nice guy who loves his people, just unfortunate so many get killed in some kind of rebellion.

[Toronto]

3 hours ago, craigt3365 said:

He should be prosecuted for war crimes.  Immediately.  Though I know it will take 20 years for anything to happen.  Sadly.

Who will fill his role? I preferred Libya under Ghadaffi, and Iraq under Hussein. BTW, this story is not necessarily factual.

[Srikcir]

4 hours ago, rooster59 said:

The United States, Britain and France have called for sanctions against Syria,

It'll be interesting to see if President Trump voids any US sanctions imposed by Obama as part of Trump's "reset" with Russia.

[ddavidovsky]

Not sure I understand why killing people with chemical weapons is deemed a war crime, but killing them with ordinary bombs (eg Dresden) is not. The designation is silly. War is war. Groups are fighting for survival which involves neutralising their enemies. There's no polite way to do that.

 

An objective assessment is that Assad has been defending his people from attack by those who are not his people. Assad has a lot of support - a substantial section of the country - are firmly behind him, but Western media, with an astonishing bias that amounts at least to self-censorship, suppresses telling their side of the story.

[Jonmarleesco]

They've long claimed this to be the case. So do they now have evidence? Or still just hearsay?

[Jonmarleesco]

2 hours ago, tartempion said:

Assad is simply a nice guy who loves his people, just unfortunate so many get killed in some kind of rebellion.

First I've heard terrorists described as rebels.

[Jonmarleesco]

5 hours ago, ezzra said:

Exclusive!!!!! he's been doing it for years now  killing his own people on a

wholesale scale, but only NOW, someone woke up to it.... why now?

wait until the number of dead will reach 1 million and than act...

Did someone said Rwanda all over again?.....

Ah, so you presumably do have evidence that the rest of the world seems to lack?

[elgordo38]

Yes the man is a scumbag and a war criminal but when you have the Russian bear in your corner it rather makes you bullet proof. 

[craigt3365]

2 hours ago, Toronto said:

Who will fill his role? I preferred Libya under Ghadaffi, and Iraq under Hussein. BTW, this story is not necessarily factual.

You prefer those dictators because you didn't live there.  The Arab Spring happened for a reason.  Discontentment among the population.  If not, they'd still be in power.  Just like the King of Jordan, Morocco, etc.

[craigt3365]

36 minutes ago, ddavidovsky said:

Not sure I understand why killing people with chemical weapons is deemed a war crime, but killing them with ordinary bombs (eg Dresden) is not. The designation is silly. War is war. Groups are fighting for survival which involves neutralising their enemies. There's no polite way to do that.

 

An objective assessment is that Assad has been defending his people from attack by those who are not his people. Assad has a lot of support - a substantial section of the country - are firmly behind him, but Western media, with an astonishing bias that amounts at least to self-censorship, suppresses telling their side of the story.

Read the article.  It explains the problem with chemical weapons....

[craigt3365]

30 minutes ago, Jonmarleesco said:

They've long claimed this to be the case. So do they now have evidence? Or still just hearsay?

Again, read the article.  It explains the evidence.

[elgordo38]

The problem with dealing with dictators like Assad is that they are of the mindset that they are the supreme leader of their country and nothing and nobody else matters and of course the toothless UN has sat through this whole fiasco without saying a word. 

[JulesMad]

Let exercise some simple logic:
FACT: There have been chemical attacks by airplanes and bombers.
IF ISIS is responsible for these chemical attacks, THEN ISIS has airplanes and bombers.

ISIS does NOT have airplanes and bombers; only Syria and Russia have.

IF it is NOT Syria, THEN it must be Russia
IF it is NOT Russia, THEN it must be Syria
IF it is NOT Syria and NOT Russia, THEN one or both are lying... Very simple logic

[Thorgal]

Again, read the article.  It explains the evidence.

I've read the article and I can't find any conclusive evidence that the Assad regime used chemical weapons.

It's all propaganda concentrated on a document released by pro-UK's media outlet Reuters.

UK and France on the other hand provided illegally weapons to the 'moderated' rebels while there was a weapons delivery embargo in place in Syria. The illegal weapons flow resulted in a long lasting war.

Let's not forget that this isn't a civil war, but it's a war for regime change. Just part of the remodelling of the Middle East...


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[Gene1960]

First I've heard terrorists described as rebels.

Heard it on CNN many times.

[craigt3365]

13 minutes ago, Thorgal said:

 

I've read the article and I can't find any conclusive evidence that the Assad regime used chemical weapons.

It's all propaganda concentrated on a document released by pro-UK's media outlet Reuters.

UK and France on the other hand provided illegally weapons to the 'moderated' rebels while there was a weapons delivery embargo in place in Syria. The illegal weapons flow resulted in a long lasting war.

Let's not forget that this isn't a civil war, but it's a war for regime change. Just part of the remodelling of the Middle East...


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Sorry you can't find it.  As was stated above.  ISIS doesn't have planes in these areas.  Only Syria or Russia.  So if not Syria, then it was Russian aircraft.  Because the chemical attacks did happen.  No denying that.

[fasteddie]

Two important lines from the article.....

 

" Reuters was unable to independently review the evidence or to verify it. "

" The issue of chemical weapons use in Syria has become a deeply political one"

 

[fasteddie]

3 minutes ago, craigt3365 said:

Sorry you can't find it.  As was stated above.  ISIS doesn't have planes in these areas.  Only Syria or Russia.  So if not Syria, then it was Russian aircraft.  Because the chemical attacks did happen.  No denying that.

"Because the chemical attacks did happen.  No denying that."

 

But not necessarily from the air, on the liberation of E Aleppo numerous stashes of chemical ingredients were found in previously terrorist held areas.

 

If you want to get a more truthful insight try reading what two independent journalists who were actually there have to say, Vanessa Beeley (English) and Eva Bartlett (Canadian).

[Thorgal]

Sorry you can't find it.  As was stated above.  ISIS doesn't have planes in these areas.  Only Syria or Russia.  So if not Syria, then it was Russian aircraft.  Because the chemical attacks did happen.  No denying that.

Any mobile mortar or artillery unit can deploy chemical canisters/projectiles.

Chemical attacks deployed during WW1 weren't dropped by aircraft too.

Chlorine factories operated for the textile industry in Aleppo were seized by the FSA when they controlled the city in 2011.

One of them was destroyed, but the other one was used to produce chlorine for chemical attacks against Christian minorities.

No planes were used to deploy chlorine DIY canisters/gas bottles on the local population.




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[craigt3365]

Quote

The second section names the air force chief as well as four commanders of air force divisions. They include the heads of the 22nd Air Force Division and the 63rd Helicopter Brigade, units that the inquiry has previously said dropped chlorine bombs.

 

[Morch]

6 hours ago, ddavidovsky said:

Not sure I understand why killing people with chemical weapons is deemed a war crime, but killing them with ordinary bombs (eg Dresden) is not. The designation is silly. War is war. Groups are fighting for survival which involves neutralising their enemies. There's no polite way to do that.

 

An objective assessment is that Assad has been defending his people from attack by those who are not his people. Assad has a lot of support - a substantial section of the country - are firmly behind him, but Western media, with an astonishing bias that amounts at least to self-censorship, suppresses telling their side of the story.

 

I'm sure that you do understand.

 

The main point here would be indiscriminate attacks on civilian population. For that matter, indiscriminate bombing of civilians by conventional means is also a no no.

 

"Objective" according to whom? Assad's opponents aren't all foreigners, not by a long shot. If that was meant as protecting Alwaites, that would be a rather lame justification. Assad does have support, and such reports are not "suppressed". On the other hand we do have a bunch of posters bent on describing any one opposing him as an Islamist terrorist - which is, of course, nonsense.

[Morch]

3 hours ago, Thorgal said:

 

I've read the article and I can't find any conclusive evidence that the Assad regime used chemical weapons.

It's all propaganda concentrated on a document released by pro-UK's media outlet Reuters.

UK and France on the other hand provided illegally weapons to the 'moderated' rebels while there was a weapons delivery embargo in place in Syria. The illegal weapons flow resulted in a long lasting war.

Let's not forget that this isn't a civil war, but it's a war for regime change. Just part of the remodelling of the Middle East...


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Russia delivered and deliverers arms to Syria as well, so did Iran. Somehow that usually failed to be mentioned by certain posters.

 

Let's not forget that you decide to call it a "war for regime change" and state it like it's fact.

[Morch]

3 hours ago, fasteddie said:

Two important lines from the article.....

 

" Reuters was unable to independently review the evidence or to verify it. "

" The issue of chemical weapons use in Syria has become a deeply political one"

 

 

Two out of context lines. Wow....some serious debate skills there.

[Morch]

3 hours ago, fasteddie said:

"Because the chemical attacks did happen.  No denying that."

 

But not necessarily from the air, on the liberation of E Aleppo numerous stashes of chemical ingredients were found in previously terrorist held areas.

 

If you want to get a more truthful insight try reading what two independent journalists who were actually there have to say, Vanessa Beeley (English) and Eva Bartlett (Canadian).

 

Unless mistaken, there were clips of Syrian helicopters dropping barrel bombs posted on previous topics. There's quite a bit of documented aerial attacks. Similarly, the "reports" of the two "journalists" mentioned were previously presented on the forum, neither came off as very credible, or objective.

[Morch]

2 hours ago, fasteddie said:

"The first casualty of war is the truth"

Hiram W Johnson.

 

That wouldn't necessarily make Assad's version worthy.

[Morch]

3 hours ago, Thorgal said:

 

Typical war propaganda...



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Whereas the narrative you push forward isn't?