An alliance of forces, including hardline jihadist factions, is the dominant power in Idlib, but it was not clear which group brought the helicopter down. Civilian losses in the city have been astronomical, with the United Nations estimating that 200,000 to 300,000 civilians remained trapped within the city.
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Sharif Nashishibi, a London-based Middle East analyst and writer, described the opposition fighters’ campaign as “their last ditch attempt to keep Aleppo” as government forces attempt to further besiege rebel-held neighbourhoods.
The Syrian National Coalition opposition group cited activists as saying that it was the government forces who bombed the town of Saraqeb with chlorine-filled barrel bombs, placing the number of those affected at 30.
The statement by the group, also known as the White Helmets, said the gas cylinders were dropped on the city of Saraqeb in Idlib province and “smelled like chlorine”.
People are reusing medical supplies that should be disposable, such as syringes, Lee says. All five people onboard the helicopter were killed.
Meanwhile, Russia launched heavy air strikes overnight on the outskirts of Aleppo, slowing a “last-chance” assault by rebels seeking to break a government siege. “Three crew members and two officers were on board”, it said.
The Civil Defence spokesman said it was the second time Saraqeb had been hit by toxic gas.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based monitor, said the helicopter had come down along the administrative border between Idlib province in the northwest and neighboring Aleppo.
No group has claimed responsibility for downing the Mi-8 military transport helicopter.
Asked if he was dismayed August 1 had come without a political transition to help end Syria’s five-year civil war, Kerry said the target date was set earlier this year when there were hopes political talks could take hold amid a reduction in violence.
Raed Al Halabi, a fighter in the local Halab al-Shahba Brigades, said on Tuesday a coalition of armed groups will launch shells and auto bomb attacks against Aleppo’s government-held neighbourhoods with the hope of advancing and opening the government-besieged supply route into the city.
A “last chance” offensive against government forces in Aleppo has run into major setbacks, as Russian Federation reportedly increased air strikes to roll back rebel advances.
It is the deadliest single incident for the Russian military since its entrance into Syria’s civil war.
“Developments on the ground show how the Assad regime continues to blatantly ignore global law and U.N. Security Council resolutions, especially those related to the use of chemical weapons”, the Syrian National Council said.
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“Now, my hope is that we can arrive at that”, Kerry said, before issuing a new, if vaguer, suggestion of a potential USA breaking point.
