After OPCW’s interim report did not report traces of a nerve agent, Kremlin media and Assad apologists state US led retaliation was wrong

At April 7 2018 in the city of Douma the content of two yellow cylinders containing chlorine caused the death of many innocent people. The cylinders were likely dropped by a Syrian Air Force helicopter. The world will probably never know exactly who was responsible for the use of chemicals against people as the OPCW at the time of the attack in Douma did  not have a mandate to assign blame. Despite attempts by Russia and its allies OPCW in June 2018 got the mandate to also assign blame when chemicals are used in warfare.

As a result of the use of chemical weapons in Douma the United States launched cruise missiles to three targets in Syria. UK and France participated in the attack.

The Fact-Finding Mission (FFM) of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), issued an interim report on the FFM’s investigation  regarding the allegations of chemical weapons use in Douma, Syria on 7 April 2018.

The OPCW interim report stated:

Along with explosive residues, various chlorinated organic chemicals were found in samples from two sites, for which there is full chain of custody.

Kremlin financially supported media RT twisted the facts of the OPCW report by using the headline.

“Nerve agents not found in samples from Syria’s Douma – interim OPCW report”

RT also mentioned in the same  article ” Russian military found an entire laboratory operated by militants in central Douma, which was capable of producing chemical weapons” but failed to mention  OPCW reported in paragraph 8.16 of the same  “there was no indication of either facility being involved in the production of chemical warfare agents or toxic chemicals for use as weapons.”

8.16 At the warehouse and the facility suspected by the authorities of the Syrian Arab
Republic of producing chemical weapons in Douma, information was gathered to
assess whether these facilities were associated with the production of chemical
weapons or toxic chemicals that could be used as weapons. From the information
gathered during the two on-site visits to these locations, there was no indication of
either facility being involved in the production of chemical warfare agents or toxic
chemicals for use as weapons.

Assad apologists rushed after the release of the OPCW interim report to state there was no chemical attack in Douma. They also stated that the US, France and UK were wrong by their attacks.

The apologists also stated that chlorine was found in any household so samples found by OPCW is no proof for a chemical attack.

However the OPCW report at page 15 stated that “samples 4, a swab taken with water from inside the cylinder orifice (level3)  contained dichloroacetic acid as well as other chemicals like chloride”.  Also sample 5, concrete debris from the crater-edge in front of the cylinder nose contained dichloroacetic acid as well as other chemicals.

So chlorine was found by OPCW inside the yellow cylinder which proves the chlorine found in samples was not used for household purposes. Mind OPCW reported the results of the analysis of 20 samples. In total it took 86 samples.

Attack was for use of chemical weapons

Let us have a look at two other aspects. First is the chlorine which was found in OPCW samples considered as chemical warfare and what the red line of the Trump administration is.

To start with the red line, US government never made clear if the use of the much more deadly nerve agents sarin is a red line, or if the use of chlorine is a red line. This Washington Post article explains.

It is clear however the use of ‘chemical warware’ by Assad was the reason for the US, UK and France to attack Syria.

French president Emmanuael Macron stated in a Twitter message:

“Dozens of men, women and children were massacred using chemical weapons in Douma on Saturday, 7 April. The red line has been crossed.  I have therefore ordered the French armed forces to intervene”

“Many dead, including women and children, in mindless CHEMICAL attack in Syria. Area of atrocity is in lockdown and encircled by Syrian Army, making it completely inaccessible to outside world. President Putin, Russia and Iran are responsible for backing Animal Assad. Big price to pay,” Trump wrote on Twitter

The WhiteHouse Assessment of the Assad Regime’s Chemical Weapons Use published at April 13 states that chlorine was used in Douma and possibly sarin based on open-source evidence like videos and photos.

Spokeswomen Heather Nauert did use sarin in an April 17 pressbriefing:

We have information that leads us to believe that both chlorine and sarin were used in the attack.

Theresa May, PM of the United Kingdom, stated “co-ordinated and targeted strikes” were taken against the Syrian regime’s chemical weapons capability. There was no mentioning of sarin being the reason for the strikes.

In all communication by the three states, the reason for the attack is the usage of a chemical weapon. Based on this there is no reason to believe the US, France and UK attacked Syria because of the use of a nerve agent like sarin. The use of the chemical chlorine was enough reason to retaliate.

Is chlorine a chemical weapon?

Chlorine is a choking agent. Phohibited chemical weapons are documented Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC). The definition of a chemical weapon by OPCW is :

The term chemical weapon is applied to any toxic chemical or its precursor that can cause death, injury, temporary incapacitation or sensory irritation through its chemical action. Munitions or other delivery devices designed to deliver chemical weapons, whether filled or unfilled, are also considered weapons themselves.

Chlorine is a so called dual use chemical  and  common industrialy used (e.g. cleaning of swimming pools and waterpurification) that is not included in the CWC schedules of banned chemicals. For that reason a CWC state party is not required to declare chlorine or destroy it under the CWC because of its many civilian purposes. Chlorine was never declared by the Syrian authorities to OPCW when OPCW was tasked to remove all chemical weapons in Syria. (source)

However, any use of chlorine or any other toxic chemical in warfare is illegal under the convention

German as a member of OPCW made clear the use of chlorine as a weapon is a violation of the CWC.

Basically, the use of any toxic chemical with the intent to cause death or harm is a clear violation of the Chemical Weapons Convention.

Conclusion:

Chlorine when used to kill people by intend is a violation of the Chemical Weapons Convention which was signed by Syria. The US, France and the UK attacked Syria as a result of the usage of chlorine as chemical warfare and not specifically sarin.

Statements by Russian media and Assas apologists suggesting otherwise are false.