Rescuers say toxic gas dropped on Syrian town where Russian helicopter shot down

[uawchild]

Source: Reuters

A Syrian rescue service operating in rebel-held territory said on Tuesday a helicopter dropped containers of toxic gas overnight on a town close to where a Russian military helicopter was shot down hours earlier.

The opposition Syrian National Coalition (SNC) accused President Bashar al Assad of being behind the attack. Assad has denied previous accusations of using chemical weapons.

A spokesman for the Syria Civil Defence said 33 people, mostly women and children, were affected by the gas, which they suspect was chlorine, in Saraqeb, in rebel-held Idlib province.

The group, which describes itself as a neutral band of search and rescue volunteers, posted a video on YouTube apparently showing a number of men struggling to breathe and being given oxygen masks by people in civil defense uniforms.

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-syria-idlib-idUSKCN10D0OZ

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"The group, which describes itself as a neutral band of search and rescue volunteers, posted a video on YouTube apparently showing a number of men struggling to breathe and being given oxygen masks by people in civil defense uniforms."

Ok. Any verification by any disinterested third parties?

"The group, which describes itself as a neutral band of search and rescue volunteers" -- so no official status?

"posted a video on YouTube apparently showing a number of men struggling to breathe" -- apparently? OK.

We have been down this road before.

Chlorine and mustard gas are in the hands of rebel groups and ISIS. On a small scale use, they are relatively ineffective compared to normal explosive munitions. Accusations have been made repeatedly that gas attacks have been staged to implicate the Syrian government.

New Report of ISIS Using Poison Gas in Syria
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/25/world/middleeast/isis-suspected-of-chemical-attack-in-syria.html?_r=0

"While the OPCW's mandate is not to apportion blame, activists on Friday accused militants from the Islamic State group of using the gas as part of its sustained campaign to capture Marea."
https://www.yahoo.com/news/mustard-gas-used-syria-fighting-august-chemical-watchdog-194704844.html?ref=gs

Syrian rebels used Sarin nerve gas, not Assad’s regime: U.N. official
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2013/may/6/syrian-rebels-used-sarin-nerve-gas-not-assads-regi/

The ONLY way the deaths of innocent civilians will end is thru a negotiated peace to end the Syrian civil war. There is no military solution to this.

[riversedge]

1. Agree-a negotiated peace is the only solution. A long slog.

[uhnope]

2. So you post this but then try to deny that Assad could be using chemical weapons again.

WTF.

Are you trying to deny that Assad used chemical weapons in the past, denying the whole reason that Obama led the international effort to force Assad to destroy his chemical weapons?

And are you aware that chlorine was not part of that agreement, and so yes Assad could still have chlorine gas, which he apparently used in 2014 also?

you say:

"Accusations have been made repeatedly that gas attacks have been staged to implicate the Syrian government. "

so it's all a big conspiracy to make Assad look bad, right? Assad would never do such a thing, right?

...This is propagandistic denialism run amok

[Cayenne]

5. ISIS used gas

Yes, the pretense to invade Syria was to frame up Assad. The evidence shows the gas used in the attacks was not the same gas as Assad had in his arsenal. UN findings also determined gas was launched from a hell canon like that used by ISIS.

In relative terms, Assad is the moderate. All those opposed to him are crazy, swivel-eyed head choppers that do not tolerate Christians or immodest women. They want a caliphate, not a democracy.

[Eugene]

6. How many helicopters does ISIS operate?

Witness in the OP article and this article say that a helicopter dropped cylinders on a rebel-held area.

Saying that Assad is more moderate than ISIS is not saying much.
Syria is responsible for many vicious attacks against civilians
in rebel areas.

[uawchild]

8. EVIDENCE REMOVED from toxic gas release site!

I read the OP and your linked article, thank you for providing that. Both cite local witnesses saying they saw two medium sized barrels falling from a helicopter.

But is that true? Has it been independently verified? Could jihadist have just waited for a helicopter to fly over then release chlorine gas themselves in a false flag operation to discredit the Syrian government?

Well, I am sure once forensic experts examine the bomb site that this will be determined beyond any doubt.

Oh, wait, forensic experts CANNOT EXAMINE THE BOMB SITE because the same people that REPORTED the incident REMOVED THE EVIDENCE:

"According to the group, a helicopter dropped two barrels, each containing five canisters full of chlorine as well as "iron balls of various sizes."

After taking the victims to hospitals, the volunteers removed what was left of the barrels and canisters, according to the organization, which describes itself as a neutral search-and-rescue operation."
http://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/syrian-first-responders-claim-helicopter-dropped-gas-dozens-rebel-held-n621511

Why did the self-described "neutral search-and-rescue operation" do THAT? Hiding evidence perhaps?

Both sides have used poison gas attacks in the past. Each time the guilty party has blamed the other side.
Pretending this isn't so is delusional.

The ONLY way to stop innocent civilians from being killed in this civil war is to negotiate a peace now.

[uhnope]

10. wait what? Are you still proposing a conspiracy theory

and claiming that Russia's Assad hasn't used chemical weapons in Syria?

WTH

[uhnope]

11. *crickets*

[uhnope]

7. your post doesn't make a lot of sense and

"swivel-eyed" is pretty bigoted. It's also ridiculous to say "All those opposed to him are crazy, swivel-eyed head choppers that do not tolerate Christians or immodest women." Much of the reality-based community is opposed to Assad. I am. So am I a crazy head chopper? WTF. Weird post

[cynzke]

3. ATTACKS ATTRIBUTED TO ISIL USING CHEMICAL WEAPONS WERE MADE THROUGH CRUDE DELIVERY SYSTEMS.

Mortar shells, car bombs. According to this story, barrels of chorine gas were DROPPED on the village within hours of the helicopter downing. Does Isil have access to a plane or helicopter? Are they operating anywhere near this village which is supposedly in territory controlled by the rebel. How did Isil manage to respond so quickly and secretly in a territory occupied by its enemies? Time will tell.

[Bradical79]

9. If dropped from helicopter, probably would be Assad's forces -nt