After two chemical weapon attacks struck civilians in Syria, the United Nations underwent an extensive investigation into the use of the deadly weapons with an international chemical weapons monitor.
The investigation revealed Syrian military forces have used chlorine gas in separate incidents against Syrian civilians. The use of such chemicals is considered a war crime and raises many questions after Syrian President Basher al-Assad signed a treaty that banned chemical warfare back in 2013.
Samantha Powers, representative of the United States in the U.N. said:
“When anyone — from any government or from any terrorist group — so flagrantly violates the global ban on chemical weapons use without consequences, it sends the signal that impunity reigns and it gravely weakens the counter-proliferation regime from which all of us benefit.”
How the U.S will respond remains to be seen. President Obama, in the past, has vocally expressed his criticism of Assad’s tactics. The Obama presidency has also threatened U.S intervention in Syria if Assad continued to use chemical weapons, which would cross a red line.
Whether or not this means military intervention is unknown, as Assad and his Syrian government forces have been able to enact their will without consequence. Many of Mr. Obama’s critics will be looking for the President to take action against the violations.
It will also be difficult for the United Nations Security Council to formally charge the Assad Regime for war crimes because of Syria’s close relationship with Russia. Indeed, the Russians have contended there is no substantial proof that Syria is responsible for the chemical attacks against its own people. But the attack was conducted by helicopter runs, and it is believed that only Syria uses helicopters in military missions.
For many, however, the evidence is clear, and there have been calls for immediate action to hold Syria accountable for its actions.
“It is now impossible to deny that the Syrian regime has repeatedly used industrial chlorine as a weapon against its own people,” U.S. National Security Council spokesman Ned Price said. “We urge all UN member states and parties to the Chemical Weapons Convention, including Russia and Iran, to participate in this effort.”
