The joint body, known as the JIM, was set up by the Security Council past year and was investigating nine cases of alleged chemical use.
Advertisement
The findings by the UN and the OPCW present yet another opportunity for all nations to speak with one voice to address these heinous crimes and to make it clear that the use of chemical weapons is intolerable.
Power called on the Security Council to take “strong and swift action” against those accused of using chemical weapons.
The UN’s Security Council (UNSC) is due to discuss the report on Tuesday.
The report, which evaluates chemical weapons in Syria, was expected to be released to the media for review later in the day.
The year-long United Nations and Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) inquiry, authorized by the Security Council, said Syrian Arab Air Force helicopters dropped toxic substances in Talmenes on April 21, 2014, and Sarmin on March 16, 2015.
Syria became a signatory to the convention in 2013 after agreeing to destroy its chemical weapons production facilities and declared chemical weapons stockpile, which consisted of the agents to produce Sarin and mustard agent.
While State Department spokeswoman Elizabeth Trudeau would not preview what actions the U.S. would take at the Security Council, she told reporters Thursday that “the administration will continue to pursue all appropriate legal and diplomatic options” to hold the responsible parties accountable. Louis Charbonneau, U.N. director at Human Rights Watch, said the council must ensure that those responsible for “the sickening, illegal use of chemical weapons in Syria. are brought to justice in a court of law”.
Following the August 30th discussion by the Security Council, the report will be made public.
Although Moscow supported the establishment of the UN-OPCW investigation, it has blocked sanctions and other action against the Assad regime, which is a close ally.
The panel recommended further investigation of three other cases of suspected chemical weapons use by the Syrian regime.
“Without accountability, the cycle of abuses in Syria by all parties to the conflict-whether by chemical or conventional weapons-will continue unabated”, he said.
The OPCW-UN report also confirmed that in August 2015, ISIL used mustard gas against civilians in Syria. At the time, DAESH militants were attacking opposition groups.
“The Secretariat considers that numerous explanations provided by the Syrian Arab Republic are not scientifically or technically plausible”, OPCW Director General Ahmet Uzumcu said in the report.
Advertisement
The probe dates back to the April 2014 attack on the rebel-held village of Kafr Zita, followed by a string of alleged use of noxious gas in Idlib province on the towns of Talmenes, Al-Tamana, Qmenas, Binnish and Sarmin.
