2014 Kafr Zita chemical attack

The attack took place in Kafr Zita, a rebel-held[6] village located 30 kilometers (19 mi) north of Hama, in the context of the Syrian Civil War. According to witnesses interviewed by the OPCW Fact-Finding Mission the village has suffered hundreds of conventional attacks since the start of the conflict in Syria.[7]

The chemical attack on 11 April 2014, occurred between 18:00 and 19:00.[7] The bomb was dropped by a helicopter.[8]

The attack reportedly wounded around 100 people. Five were seriously wounded while an elderly man originally from Morek, his daughter, and a little girl died from the attack.[1]

Both the opposition and Syria's state television claimed that the attack led to the killing of two people and several cases of suffocation and poisoning.[3][11]

Experts have stated that while using chlorine is not as deadly as conventional weapons, such chemical strikes are valuable in intimidating rebel factions, and according to David Kay, a former U.N. weapons inspector: "says a lot about their [Syrian regimes] lack of fear of consequences. What's the West going to do? It's done nothing so far."[16] However, David Kay is known for his role in backing up the American and British claims that Iraq possessed weapons of mass destruction, and as a senior fellow and vice president of the Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC).[17]

According to Dina Esfandiary, of the International Institute for Strategic Studies, the attack was reported as a rebel atrocity on Syrian state TV before it had even happened.[18]

According to Hamish de Bretton-Gordon, a director of SecureBio consultancy and a former commander of the British Army's chemical readiness forces, "[t]he evidence from Kafr Zita is pretty compelling and is certainly being examined very carefully by officials."[14] Following subsequent scientific analysis of samples from multiple gas attacks, conducted exclusively for The Telegraph,[19] he said: "We have unequivocally proved that the regime has used chlorine and ammonia against its own civilians in the last two to three weeks."[20]

Independent investigations by reporters from the German magazine Der Spiegel[21] and Daniele Raineri of Italy's Il Foglio found among the remnants of the bombs debris of apparently civilian Chlorine gas cylinders produced by Chinese manufacturer Norinco.[22][23][24]

Following the attack, Syria's opposition Syrian National Coalition called on the United Nations to investigate the incident, along with a similar alleged chemical attack on the same day in the Harasta suburb[25] of Damascus,[6][26] which was also allegedly attacked again with chemicals on 16 April.[27] Later chemical attacks were reported in April at Al-Tamanah in Idlib Governorate, Zahraa near Homs[14] and on the 22 April in both the Damascus suburb of Darayya[28] and Talmenes, which is 32 kilometers (20 mi) northeast of Kafr Zita.[29] On 19 May, it was alleged that Kafr Zita was again attacked with chlorine, the sixth alleged gas attack in the village in two months, killing one boy and leaving 130 villagers in need of medical attention, including 21 children who were in critical condition.[30][31] On 21 May, it was again chemically attacked, along with Al-Tamanah, which is located 16 kilometers (9.9 mi) away from Kafr Zita.[32]

On 20 April, French president François Hollande claimed that the Syrian government had used chlorine weapons, stating, "[w]e have a few elements of information but I do not have the proof".[14][33] This was followed a day later by the U.S. State Department spokesperson Jen Psaki stating, "we're examining allegations that the government was responsible. We take all allegations of the use of chemicals in combat use very seriously."[34] However, Andrew Tabler, a Syria expert with the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, has remarked on possible American action against the chlorine attacks that "Obama has been pronouncing the [Syrian chemical weapons] deal as a victory so I'm not sure he's ready to jump on the chlorine issue."[35]

According to an investigation by The Telegraph, comprising testimony from doctors who have treated the wounded, relatives of the victims and eyewitnesses of the latest chemical attacks, it has found "evidence of the regime's continued and systematic use of chemical weapons in Syria" in order to combat heavy pressure from rebel forces. It also noted the rise in deaths and injuries attributed to the chlorine attacks.[36]

• Ghouta chemical attack
• Chemical weapon
• Use of chemical weapons in the Syrian civil war