Archive for April 13th, 2018
Russian military: No trace of chemical weapons. At alleged attack site in Douma (Al Ghouta)
Posted on: April 13, 2018
No trace of chemical weapons at alleged attack site in Douma – Russian military
Experts in radiological, chemical and biological warfare, as well as medics, on Monday inspected the parts of the Eastern Ghouta city of Douma, where an alleged chemical attack supposedly took place on Saturday, the Russian Reconciliation Center for Syria said in a statement.
The specialists “found no traces of the use of chemical agents” after searching the sites, the statement said. The center’s medical specialists also visited a local hospital but found no patients that showed signs of chemical weapons poisoning.
“All these facts show… that no chemical weapons were used in the town of Douma, as it was claimed by the White Helmets,” the statement said, referring to the controversial “civil defense” group that was among the first to report about the alleged attack.
“All the accusations brought by the White Helmets, as well as their photos… allegedly showing the victims of the chemical attack, are nothing more than a yet another piece of fake news and an attempt to disrupt the ceasefire,” the Reconciliation Center said.
On Saturday, some rebel-linked groups, including the White Helmets, accused the Syrian government of carrying out a chemical attack that, allegedly, affected dozens of civilians in the Eastern Ghouta town of Douma.
The reports have already provoked a wave of outrage in the West, as the US and the EU rushed to put the blame for the incident on Damascus and Moscow. US President Donald Trump hastily denounced the perceived attack as a “mindless” atrocity and a “humanitarian disaster for no reason whatsoever,” warning of a “big price” to be paid.
Syria and Russia have dismissed the accusations and called the reports fake news, aimed at helping the extremists and at justifying potential strikes against Syrian forces.
In the very early hours of Monday, Israeli fighter jets targeted Syria’s T-4 airbase in Homs province, violating Lebanon air space in and out, (at the instigation of Trump) the Russian Defense Ministry said. Israel has not commented on the strike.
Earlier, a number of Israeli officials had called on the US to strike Syria as a response to the reported chemical attack. (Israel is wary to carring out other attacks on Syria)
Trump has promised to decide on potential actions against Syria within 24-48 hours, adding that nothing is “off the table” (and followed with another tweet backtracking. Germany and Italy will Not participate in that attack. Macron of France is toning down his threats)
Earlier, US Defense Secretary James Mattis said that the US did not rule out a potential military action against Damascus. But he cannot predict the reactions of Putin for any further escalation.
The White Helmets (trained to fabricate videos) claim to be volunteer first-responders saving Syrians caught up in the fighting. They gained traction in the western media and rose to prominence during the Battle of Aleppo in 2016, while working exclusively in the militant-controlled areas of the city and becoming one of the most widely used sources of information and visual materials in the West. (Paid by the colonial powers that want to dismember Syria)
The people on the ground in Aleppo, however, told RT’s Murad Gazdiev that the White Helmets were working closely with the militants and saving only “their own.”
Local witnesses also accused the “activists” of looting the humanitarian aid that was coming into the city and of forcing the locals to read fake anti-government statements on camera, in return for food.
Assaad Zakka shared a link. ·
Syrian Rebels Used Sarin Gas in 2013: From UN sources. And yet, Obama, Hollande (France) wanted and now Trump wants to punish the Assad regime again
Posted on: April 13, 2018
UN Sources Say Syrian Rebels — Not Assad — Used Sarin Gas
A member of the United Nations commission of inquiry announced on a Swiss-Italian television show that they believe the Syrian rebels have used chemical weapons on Assad’s troops.
his article is from the archive of our partner 
. It was published in 2013.
A member of the United Nations commission of inquiry announced on a Swiss-Italian television show that they believe the Syrian rebels have used chemical weapons on Assad’s troops.
“Our investigators have been in neighboring countries interviewing victims, doctors and field hospitals and, according to their report of last week which I have seen, there are strong, concrete suspicions, but not yet incontrovertible proof, of the use of sarin gas, from the way the victims were treated,” said Carla Del Ponte, a member of the commission. “This was used on the part of the opposition, the rebels, not by the government authorities.”
(And yet, Carla Del Ponte priority is to focus on the Syrian regime as culprit for crimes against humanity)
Well, this complicates matters. It was just ten days ago that the United States shook its fist and officially declared that chemical weapons were being used by the Assad regime against its own people.
This indicated that the Syrian government had crossed the “red line” that Obama determined last year and opened the possibility of greater U.S. involvement.
But if it was the other way around? — The good guys (supported by western colonial powers, mnarchic wahhabi Saudi Kingdom, Turkey…) sprayed sarin gas on the bad guys (the Syrian people)?
That makes assisting the rebels a much more complicated transaction. Chemical weapons are horrible, no doubt about that. And sarin gas is absolutely off limits, according to the Geneva Protocol, and with three reported uses in Syria, it’s not like it was an accident. Also, chemical weapons are horrible.
Before anybody does anything, the U.N. commission’s claims need to be verified. There’s been nothing but misinformation spewing out of Syria, as the conflict turned to an all out civil war, and it’s not unimaginable that the Assad regime has been able to spin some information to their advantage.
Plus how in the world would the rebels even get sarin gas?
It doesn’t grow on trees, and though the government does have a bunch on hand, they’ve been guarding it heavily.
That said, it’s not like it’s the Syrian state news agency that’s making the sarin claim. It’s the United Nations — or at least their sources. They seem like honest, human rights-loving world citizens, right?
While it’ll take a little more sleuthing before we can positively confirm who’s using what weapons, one thing is for sure: Things have gone from bad to worse to really bad in Syria these past few months.
And now that Israel’s started shelling the country, it’ll probably keep getting worse before it gets better.
Note: The same accusations are levied on the Syrian regime concerning the supposedly chemical weapons used in Al Ghouta. The USA and France want to attack Syria before the UN chemical organization finishes its investigation on the ground
Adonis Diaries 