Israel Matzav

Assad used chemical weapons on rebels?

London's Daily Telegraph raises the possibility that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has used chemical weapons on the rebels who are fighting to overthrow him (Hat Tip: Daily Alert).

Gen Silou decided to come out of his retirement and join the FSA leadership in Turkey when the government attacked Homs in February. In addition to the barrages of artillery fired from tanks, the attack increased his concern that Mr Assad could deploy chemical weapons in the future. He is convinced that the regime sprayed pesticides from planes on population areas in Rastan, a hub for the rebel Free Syrian Army close to Homs.

The claims cannot be independently confirmed, but in February and March patients seen by the Daily Telegraph who had led Rasatn and Homs for Lebanon showed signs of hair loss, skin irritation, chronic muscle pain and sickness. Doctors in Lebanon treating Syrian patients from Rastan and Homs who had fled the country reported seeing unusual symptoms.

There is a consensus that Bashar would follow in his father's footsteps and use chemical weapons against his own population on a much larger scale if he felt it could save his regime. Read the whole thing.

Labels: Bashar al-Assad, chemical weapons, Syrian uprising

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 12:09 AM