Syria claims rebels behind chemical weapon attack, gives evidence to Russia

Zee Media Bureau/Neha Attre

Damascus: The Syrian government has claimed that the rebel fighters in the war-torn country had used the chemical weapons in the attack that took place on August 21 and not the Syrian regime. Evidence supporting the claim has been given to Russia, Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said on Wednesday. However, he refused to divulge any more details. Ryabkov further alleged that the report blaming the Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s government was biased and one-sided and there were three instances of chemical attacks prior to this one which were not looked into. Syria’s ally, Russia, supported Syria and also blamed the rebels for the August 21 attack in which US claims that over 1,000 people were killed. After the UN report which confirmed that chemical attack did take place, West blamed the Syrian regime for it. US had claimed that it is “inconceivable” that anyone except the Syria regime could have carried out the chemical weapons attack.