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| Syria war: 'Toxic gas' dropped on town where Russian helicopter was shot down | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Containers of toxic gas have reportedly been dropped on a Syrian town overnight close to where a Russian military helicopter was shot down yesterday. | Containers of toxic gas have reportedly been dropped on a Syrian town overnight close to where a Russian military helicopter was shot down yesterday. |
| Up to 33 people, mostly women and children, were affected by the gas attack in Saraqeb, a spokesman for Syria Civil Defence told Reuters. | Up to 33 people, mostly women and children, were affected by the gas attack in Saraqeb, a spokesman for Syria Civil Defence told Reuters. |
| The group, which describes itself as a neutral band of search and rescue volunteers, posted a video on YouTube purportedly showing a number a man struggling to breathe after being given an oxygen mask by people in civil defence uniforms. | The group, which describes itself as a neutral band of search and rescue volunteers, posted a video on YouTube purportedly showing a number a man struggling to breathe after being given an oxygen mask by people in civil defence uniforms. |
| Syria Civil Defence workers, who went to the scene of the attack, said they suspected it was chlorine but could not verify the type of gas used. | Syria Civil Defence workers, who went to the scene of the attack, said they suspected it was chlorine but could not verify the type of gas used. |
| "Medium-sized barrels fell containing toxic gasses. The Syrian Civil Defence was not able to determine the type of the gas," the spokesman said. | "Medium-sized barrels fell containing toxic gasses. The Syrian Civil Defence was not able to determine the type of the gas," the spokesman said. |
| Both government and opposition forces have denied using chemical weapons during the five-year civil war. | Both government and opposition forces have denied using chemical weapons during the five-year civil war. |
| Western powers have said the Syrian government has been responsible for chlorine and other chemical attacks, while the government and Russia have accused rebel forces of using poison gas. | Western powers have said the Syrian government has been responsible for chlorine and other chemical attacks, while the government and Russia have accused rebel forces of using poison gas. |
| Monitors at the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said barrel bombs fell on Saraqeb late on Monday, injuring a large number of civilians. | Monitors at the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said barrel bombs fell on Saraqeb late on Monday, injuring a large number of civilians. |
| Russia's defence ministry said a Russian helicopter was shot down near Saraqeb, killing all five people on board in the largest loss of life for the Russian military since it started operations in Syria's civil war 10 months ago. | Russia's defence ministry said a Russian helicopter was shot down near Saraqeb, killing all five people on board in the largest loss of life for the Russian military since it started operations in Syria's civil war 10 months ago. |
| The Mi-8 transport helicopter was brought down by ground fire in Idlib province while returning to Hemeimeem air base after delivering humanitarian goods to Aleppo, the ministry said. It said all three crew members and two military officers on board died. | The Mi-8 transport helicopter was brought down by ground fire in Idlib province while returning to Hemeimeem air base after delivering humanitarian goods to Aleppo, the ministry said. It said all three crew members and two military officers on board died. |
| Images uploaded to social media purportedly show the flaming wreckage of the helicopter along with a dead body and what are alleged to be Russian identity documents taken from the wreckage. | Images uploaded to social media purportedly show the flaming wreckage of the helicopter along with a dead body and what are alleged to be Russian identity documents taken from the wreckage. |
| The helicopter appeared to have broken up as it crashed: its tail could be seen lying separately from the aircraft's body in flames. | The helicopter appeared to have broken up as it crashed: its tail could be seen lying separately from the aircraft's body in flames. |
| A rocket pod was visible amid the wreckage, standard equipment for the Mi-8, which can be used for carrying troops and cargo and attacking ground targets. | A rocket pod was visible amid the wreckage, standard equipment for the Mi-8, which can be used for carrying troops and cargo and attacking ground targets. |
| People standing nearby are seen taking photos on their phones and shouting "Allahu Akbar," or "God is great" in Arabic. The body of one Russian soldier was seen being dragged by the legs while a man jumped on the half-naked body of another soldier. | People standing nearby are seen taking photos on their phones and shouting "Allahu Akbar," or "God is great" in Arabic. The body of one Russian soldier was seen being dragged by the legs while a man jumped on the half-naked body of another soldier. |
| There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack and Idlib province has a strong presence of fighters from both Jabhat al-Nusra and other groups fighting Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's forces. | There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack and Idlib province has a strong presence of fighters from both Jabhat al-Nusra and other groups fighting Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's forces. |
| Additional reporting by Reuters | Additional reporting by Reuters |