Children left in agony as Syrian government 'drops chlorine barrel bombs' on Aleppo

Injured: A boy breathing with an oxygen mask after a suspected chlorine gas attack
Reuters
Francesca Gillett7 September 2016

Children were left screaming in agony after the government reportedly dropped chlorine on the besieged Syrian city of Aleppo.

Government forces have been accused of dropping chlorine bombs from helicopters onto a suburb of the city, choking around 80 people.

Many of those injured are reportedly children and some victims were said to be in a critical condition.

Volunteer emergency workers said the bombs were dropped on Sukkari on Tuesday and most people injured were civilians.

Under attack: A civil defense member making his way through debris.
Reuters

An inquiry by the UN last month found the Syrian government had used chlorine on at least two occasions.

But the government – and the opposition side - have always denied using chemical weapons.

Suffering: A video for the suspected aftermath of the attack was posted on social media.
Reuters

The news comes as Syrian opposition leaders prepare for a meeting in London today to launch a new plan to try and end the country’s five-year civil war.

Foreign ministers from the group of countries who have supported the rebellion against President Bashar al-Assad will also attend.

Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir told the BBC he still believed in a political solution to the conflict.

He said Mr Assad was not in a position “of advantage or victory” despite recent advances by government forces.

He said: “But if Bashar al-Assad continues to be obstinate and continues to drag his feet and continues to refuse to engage seriously, then obviously there will have to be a Plan B which will involve more stepped up military activity.”

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