OPCW finds "reasonable grounds" to accuse Syrian army of 2018 chemical attack on Douma

MADRID, 27 Ene. (EUROPA PRESS) -

An Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) investigative team has concluded that there are "reasonable grounds" to accuse the Syrian Air Force of committing an April 2018 chemical weapons attack on the Syrian town of Douma. that cost the lives of more than 40 people; the first time that it formally points to the Syrian Army as responsible for this bombardment.

According to the assessment presented this Friday, OPCW investigators say that "at least one helicopter from the elite 'Tiger Forces' units dropped two yellow cylinders filled with chlorine gas on two residential buildings in an area of ​​Douma inhabited by civilians." The incident resulted in at least 43 deaths and dozens of people affected.

The researchers have declared their conclusions, they ensure, from 70 environmental and biomedical samples, the statements of more than 60 witnesses, as well as forensic images, satellite captures, computer models of gas dispersion and trajectory simulations, all verified by experts. independent.

The results lead the OPCW experts to conclude that "the Syrian Air Forces are responsible for this attack" in what is treated, according to the general director of the OPCW, the Spanish diplomat Fernando Arias, of "a violation of the Law International". "The world now knows the facts and it is up to the international community to take action on it," he added.

It should be remembered that the OPCW had already confirmed in 2019 indications of a chemical attack on the town, although at that time it did not point to the Syrian Army as responsible for the attack. However, the Syrian Foreign Ministry denounced the initial document, which it described as a "blatant set of lies."