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Reports of chemical weapons resurface as Russia considers Assad's future

World

Reports of chemical weapons resurface as Russia considers Assad’s future

Recent attacks with chlorine and mustard gas on the battlefield in Syria show that the use chemical weapons in the civil war is becoming routine, a U.S. official said today. A confidential report by the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) provided the first official confirmation of use of mustard gas in Syria since it agreed to destroy its chemical weapons stockpile two years ago. While the OPCW did not specifically say which of the many sides in the war used the chemical, diplomatic sources said it had been used in clashes between ISIS and rebel fighters in the town of Marea in August, as well as in rebel-held areas under attack by Syrian government forces.

In sum, ominously hanging over the entire discussion in the Council is the fundamental question of whether Syria is prepared truly to renounce chemical weapons.

Rafael Foley, U.S. representative to the OPCW

Meanwhile, during a meeting with Iran’s Supreme leader Ayatollah Khamenei, in Tehran today, Syria’s crucial military backer, Russian President Vladimir Putin, signaled again that Russia remains opposed to removing controversial President Bashar Assad. The U.S. and other Western powers strongly disagree, seeing Assad’s removal as the basic starting point for any political solution to the conflict. The refugee crisis in Europe and the now intensified threat of ISIS attacks there have recently forced the U.S. and European countries to accept the need to involve Russia and Iran in ending Syria’s civil war. Russian officials have expressed hopes European countries may be moving toward the position they and Iran hold on the need to preserve the Syrian government.

No one from the outside can and no one should impose upon the Syrian people any sort of form of rule, or impose who personally should run this.

Russian President Vladimir Putin