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Graphic shows extent of Syrian chemical weapons attacks and types of agents used.
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Chemical attacks in Syria

By Duncan Mil

April 9, 2018 - The suspected chemical attack in Douma – the last rebel-held town in Syria’s Eastern Ghouta – is the latest in a string of similar deadly assaults since an attack in August 2013 that killed more than 1,400 people.

The 2013 attack in the east and southwest of Damascus, including the towns of Ain Tarma, Jobar, Muadamiya and Zamalka, killed 1,429 people, including 426 children, according to a U.S. government assessment.

Since that assault there have been 144 documented uses of chemical weapons, including mustard gas, chlorine, phosphorus, deadly sarin nerve agent and other agents.

In December 2012 reports emerged from the city of Homs that government forces had used “Agent-15”, a BZ-type nerve agent that poisoned scores of people and caused hallucinations and behavioural changes.

On April 4, 2017, Syrian warplanes attacked the rebel-held town of Khan Sheikhun in the northwestern province of Idlib with a chemical agent, killing at least 83 people. The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons later identified the agent as sarin gas.

Overnight on April 6-7, 2017, the United States fired 59 Tomahawk missiles at the Shayrat Airbase, controlled by the Syrian government, from which it says the attack was launched.

Sources
PUBLISHED: 09/04/2018; STORY: Graphic News
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