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| Syria war: At least 70 reported dead in suspected gas attack | Syria war: At least 70 reported dead in suspected gas attack |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Rescuers and medics say at least 70 people have died in Syria in a suspected gas attack in Douma, the last rebel-held town in Eastern Ghouta. | Rescuers and medics say at least 70 people have died in Syria in a suspected gas attack in Douma, the last rebel-held town in Eastern Ghouta. |
| Volunteer rescue force the White Helmets tweeted graphic images showing several bodies in basements. It said the death toll is likely to rise. | |
| There has been no independent verification of the reports. | There has been no independent verification of the reports. |
| Syria's government has called the allegations of a chemical attack a "fabrication". | Syria's government has called the allegations of a chemical attack a "fabrication". |
| The US state department said it is monitoring the "very disturbing" reports, and that Russia - which is fighting alongside the Syrian government - should be held responsible if deadly chemicals had been used. | The US state department said it is monitoring the "very disturbing" reports, and that Russia - which is fighting alongside the Syrian government - should be held responsible if deadly chemicals had been used. |
| "The regime's history of using chemical weapons against its own people in not in dispute," said the state department. | "The regime's history of using chemical weapons against its own people in not in dispute," said the state department. |
| It said it believed at least 40 people died, but that the toll may be far higher. | It said it believed at least 40 people died, but that the toll may be far higher. |
| What do we know about the alleged gas attack? | What do we know about the alleged gas attack? |
| Several medical, monitoring and activist groups reported details of a chemical attack, but figures vary and what happened is still becoming clear. | Several medical, monitoring and activist groups reported details of a chemical attack, but figures vary and what happened is still becoming clear. |
| The pro-opposition Ghouta Media Center tweeted that more than 75 people had "suffocated" while a further thousand people had suffered the effects of the alleged gas attack. | |
| It blamed a barrel bomb allegedly dropped by a helicopter which it said contained sarin, a toxic nerve agent. | It blamed a barrel bomb allegedly dropped by a helicopter which it said contained sarin, a toxic nerve agent. |
| The Union of Medical Relief Organizations, a US-based charity that works with Syrian hospitals, told the BBC the Damascus Rural Specialty Hospital had confirmed 70 deaths. | The Union of Medical Relief Organizations, a US-based charity that works with Syrian hospitals, told the BBC the Damascus Rural Specialty Hospital had confirmed 70 deaths. |
| A spokeswoman said reports on the ground suggested a much higher number of around 180 dead, but that it was hard to reach victims due to continuous shelling and the time of night. | A spokeswoman said reports on the ground suggested a much higher number of around 180 dead, but that it was hard to reach victims due to continuous shelling and the time of night. |
| She added there were reports of people being treated for symptoms including convulsions and foaming of the mouth, consistent with nerve or mixed nerve and chlorine gas exposure. | She added there were reports of people being treated for symptoms including convulsions and foaming of the mouth, consistent with nerve or mixed nerve and chlorine gas exposure. |
| As the allegations emerged, Syria's state news service Sana said the reports were invented by the Jaish al-Islam rebels who remain in control in Douma. | As the allegations emerged, Syria's state news service Sana said the reports were invented by the Jaish al-Islam rebels who remain in control in Douma. |
| "Jaish al-Islam terrorists are in a state of collapse and their media outlets are [making] chemical attack fabrications in an exposed and failed attempt to obstruct advances by the Syrian Arab army," state media said. | "Jaish al-Islam terrorists are in a state of collapse and their media outlets are [making] chemical attack fabrications in an exposed and failed attempt to obstruct advances by the Syrian Arab army," state media said. |
| Has the Syrian government used gas before? | Has the Syrian government used gas before? |
| In August 2013, rockets containing the nerve agent sarin were fired at rebel-held areas of Eastern Ghouta, killing hundreds of people. | In August 2013, rockets containing the nerve agent sarin were fired at rebel-held areas of Eastern Ghouta, killing hundreds of people. |
| A UN mission confirmed the use of sarin, but it was not asked to state who was responsible. Western powers said only Syrian government forces could have carried out the attack. | A UN mission confirmed the use of sarin, but it was not asked to state who was responsible. Western powers said only Syrian government forces could have carried out the attack. |
| In April 2017, more than 80 people died in a sarin attack on the opposition-held town of Khan Sheikhoun, and a joint inquiry by the UN and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) held the Syrian government responsible. | In April 2017, more than 80 people died in a sarin attack on the opposition-held town of Khan Sheikhoun, and a joint inquiry by the UN and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) held the Syrian government responsible. |
| Activists, medics and the US say Syrian government forces dropped bombs containing toxic chlorine gas on rebel-held towns in early 2018. | Activists, medics and the US say Syrian government forces dropped bombs containing toxic chlorine gas on rebel-held towns in early 2018. |
| The joint UN-OPCW mission is investigating the reports. It has previously found that government forces have used chlorine as a weapon at least three times during the seven-year civil war. | The joint UN-OPCW mission is investigating the reports. It has previously found that government forces have used chlorine as a weapon at least three times during the seven-year civil war. |
| What's happening in Douma? | What's happening in Douma? |
| Douma is the last rebel-held town in Syria's Eastern Ghouta region, and is under siege from Russian-backed Syrian government forces. | Douma is the last rebel-held town in Syria's Eastern Ghouta region, and is under siege from Russian-backed Syrian government forces. |
| An intense aerial and ground assault was launched on Friday after talks between Moscow and the rebels broke down. | An intense aerial and ground assault was launched on Friday after talks between Moscow and the rebels broke down. |
| Before negotiations failed, Jaish al-Islam had been trying to secure a deal that would let its members stay in Douma as a local security force. | Before negotiations failed, Jaish al-Islam had been trying to secure a deal that would let its members stay in Douma as a local security force. |
| The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a monitoring group, said government air strikes had killed 40 civilians on Friday, and a further 30 on Saturday. | The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a monitoring group, said government air strikes had killed 40 civilians on Friday, and a further 30 on Saturday. |
| State media said six civilians had also died in rebel shelling of the capital Damascus, with 38 injured. Jaish al-Islam denied it was responsible. | State media said six civilians had also died in rebel shelling of the capital Damascus, with 38 injured. Jaish al-Islam denied it was responsible. |
| Forces loyal to Syria's President Assad have recaptured almost the entire Eastern Ghouta region through a fierce offensive that started in February. | Forces loyal to Syria's President Assad have recaptured almost the entire Eastern Ghouta region through a fierce offensive that started in February. |
| More than 1,600 people are reported to have been killed and thousands injured. | More than 1,600 people are reported to have been killed and thousands injured. |