UN investigation of chemical weapons use in Ghouta
{{Infobox book
| name = Report on the Alleged Use of Chemical Weapons in the Ghouta Area of Damascus on 21 August 2013
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| author = United Nations Mission to Investigate Alleged Uses of Chemical Weapons in the Syrian Arab Republic
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| language = English
| series =
| subject = Ghouta chemical attack
| publisher = United Nations
| pub_date = 16 September 2013
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{{main|Ghouta chemical attack}}
The Report on the Alleged Use of Chemical Weapons in the Ghouta Area of Damascus on 21 August 2013 was a 2013 report produced by a team appointed by United Nations Secretary-General (UNSG) Ban Ki-moon to investigate alleged chemical weapon attacks during the Syrian civil war. The report published on 16 September 2013 focused on the 21 August 2013 Ghouta chemical attack, which took place whilst the Mission was in Damascus to investigate prior alleged incidents, including the Khan al-Assal chemical attack in March 2013.
Background
{{see also |Khan al-Assal chemical attack#UN investigations}}
File:Barada River and Four Seasons Hotel in Damascus.jpg
Two days before the attack, a UN team headed by Åke Sellström arrived in Damascus with permission, from the Syrian government, to investigate earlier alleged chemical weapons use.{{cite news|title=Syria: UN chief 'shocked' by new allegations of chemical weapons use|url=https://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=45668&Cr=syria&Cr1=#.UivcaBYqe5d|access-date=8 September 2013|newspaper=UN News Center|date=21 August 2013}}{{cite news|title=GB wants access to attack site in Syria|url=http://www.ptd.net/yellow_brix/display_article.php?&story_id=189200103§ion_id=1|access-date=23 August 2013|newspaper=Birmingham Mail|date=8 September 2013}} On the day of the attack, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon expressed "the need to investigate [the Ghouta incident as] soon as possible," hoping for consent from the Syrian government. The next day, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay urged government and opposition forces to allow investigation,{{cite news|title=Pillay says Syrian chemical weapons allegations "exceptionally grave," investigation essential|url=http://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=13652&LangID=E|access-date=8 September 2013|newspaper=U.N. Human Rights News|date=22 August 2013}} and Ban requested the government provide immediate access.{{cite news|title=Syria: Ban sending official request to allow UN probe of alleged chemical weapons use|url=https://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=45677&Cr=syria&Cr1=#.Uivl7xYqe5d|access-date=8 September 2013|newspaper=UN News Centre|date=22 August 2013}} On 23 August, clashes between rebel and government forces continued in and around Ghouta, government shelling continued, and UN inspectors were denied access for a second day.{{cite web|author=Martin Chulov and Mona Mahmood |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/aug/23/syria-gas-attack-blood-tests |title=Syrian victims of alleged gas attack smuggled to Jordan for blood tests |work=The Guardian |date=23 August 2013 |access-date=17 September 2013}}{{cite news|title=New clashes as UN seeks WMD probe|url=http://news.uk.msn.com/world/new-clashes-as-un-seeks-wmd-probe|access-date=12 September 2013|newspaper=MSN News|date=24 August 2013|quote="Syrian troops and opposition fighters have clashed during fierce battles in suburbs of the Syrian capital where the opposition claims a chemical weapons attack this week killed more than 130 people."|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921053421/http://news.uk.msn.com/world/new-clashes-as-un-seeks-wmd-probe|archive-date=21 September 2013|url-status=dead}} United States officials told The Wall Street Journal that the White House "became convinced" that the Syrian government was trying to hide the evidence of chemical weapons use by shelling the sites and delaying their inspection.{{cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424127887324906304579039342815115978|work=The Wall Street Journal|title=U.S., Allies Prepare to Act as Syria Intelligence Mounts|date=27 August 2013|access-date=28 August 2013|first1=Adam|last1=Entous|first2=Sam|last2=Dagher|first3=Siobhan|last3=Gorman}} Ban called for a ceasefire to allow the inspectors to visit the attack sites.{{cite news|title=Use of chemical weapons in Syria would be 'crime against humanity' – Ban|url=https://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=45684&Cr=syria&Cr1=#.UiCe0xYqe5d|access-date=12 September 2013|newspaper=UN News Centre|date=23 August 2013}} On 25 August the government agreed to cease hostilities with the presence of UN inspectors,{{cite news|title=U.S. official: Almost no doubt Assad regime used chemical weapons|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2013/08/25/world/meast/syria-civil-war/index.html?hpt=wo_c1|access-date=8 September 2013|publisher=CNN|date=26 August 2013|author=Frederik Pleitgen|author2=Josh Levs|author3=Hamdi Alkhashali}} and agreements between the UN, government and rebel factions were reached for five hours of cease-fire each day from 26 to 29 August.Ian Sample, The Guardian, 16 September 2013, [https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/sep/16/un-inspectors-syria-sarin-gas UN inspectors in Syria: under fire, in record time, sarin is confirmed]
Investigation
Early in the morning of 26 August several mortars hit central Damascus, including one that fell near the Four Seasons hotel the UN inspectors were staying in.Reuters, 26 August 2013, [https://www.reuters.com/article/us-syria-crisis-mortars-idUSBRE97P07320130826 At least two mortar bombs hit Damascus near U.N. team's hotel] Later in the day the UN team came under sniper fire en route to Moadamiyah in western Ghouta (in the south of Damascus), forcing them to return to their hotel and replace one of their vehicles before continuing their investigation four hours later.BBC, 16 August 2013, [https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-23838900 Syria crisis: UN inspectors' convoy hit by sniper fire] The attack prompted Ban to declare he would register a complaint to the Syrian government and opposition authorities.{{cite news|url=http://www.theatlanticwire.com/global/2013/08/us-inspectors-fired-syria-cameron-pushes-obama-act/68701/|work=The Atlantic|title=U.N. Inspectors Fired on in Syria, as Cameron Pushes Obama to Act|date=26 August 2013|access-date=28 August 2013|archive-date=29 August 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130829015636/http://www.theatlanticwire.com/global/2013/08/us-inspectors-fired-syria-cameron-pushes-obama-act/68701/|url-status=dead}}{{cite news|url=http://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2013/08/26/Inspectors-vehicle-fired-on-near-suspected-chemical-weapons-site/UPI-44821377498600/|work=United Press International|title=U.N. inspectors told to leave reputed chemical weapons attack zone|date=26 August 2013|access-date=28 August 2013}} After returning to Moadamiyah the team visited clinics and makeshift field hospitals, collected samples and conducted interviews with witnesses, survivors and doctors.{{cite news|title=Syria: UN chemical weapons team reaches inspection site after convoy hit with sniper fire|url=https://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=45701&Cr=Syria&Cr1=#.UiCefhYqe5c|access-date=8 September 2013|newspaper=UN News Centre|date=26 August 2013}} The inspectors spoke with 20 victims of the attacks and took blood and hair samples, soil samples, and samples from domestic animals. As a result of the delay caused by the sniper attack, the team's time in Moadamiyah was substantially shortened, with the scheduled expiry of the daily cease-fire leaving them around 90 minutes on the ground.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/middle-east-live/2013/aug/26/syria-crisis-military-action-un-inspectors-vist-chemical-attack|work=The Guardian|date=26 August 2013|access-date=28 August 2013|title=Syria: US secretary of state John Kerry calls chemical attack 'cowardly crime' – as it happened}}
On 28 and 29 August the UN team visited Zamalka and Ein Tarma in eastern Ghouta, in the east of Damascus, for a total time of five and a half hours. On 30 August the team visited at a Syrian government military hospital in Mazzeh, and collected samples.Zeina Karam and Kimberly Dozier, Associated Press, The Seattle Times, 8 September 2013, [http://seattletimes.com/html/nationworld/2021779336_apmlsyriaattackscenarios.html Doubts linger over Syria gas attack responsibility ]The Daily Star, 31 August 2013, [http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Middle-East/2013/Aug-31/229439-un-inspectors-wrap-up-work-in-damascus.ashx U.N. inspectors wrap up work in Damascus]
Report
The UN investigation into the chemical attacks in Ghouta was published on 16 September. The report stated that "the environmental, chemical and medical samples, we have collected, provide clear and convincing evidence that surface-to-surface rockets containing the nerve agent sarin were used in Ein Tarma, Moadamiyah and Zamalka in the Ghouta area of Damascus." The inspectors were able to identify several surface-to-surface rockets at the affected sites as 140mm BM-14 rockets originally manufactured in Russia and 330mm rockets probably manufactured in Syria.{{cite news |last=Drum |first=Kevin |title=Yep, the Ghouta Gas Attacks Were Carried Out By the Assad Regime |url=https://www.motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2013/09/syria-un-report-ghouta-sarin-rocket-attack |newspaper=Mother Jones |date=16 September 2013 |access-date=17 September 2013}} U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon called the findings "beyond doubt and beyond the pale," and clear evidence of a war crime. "The results are overwhelming and indisputable ... A majority of the rockets or rocket fragments recovered were found to be carrying sarin."{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/kerry-un-will-enforce-deal-to-rid-syria-of-chemical-weapons/2013/09/16/0f1d9bf6-1eb6-11e3-94a2-6c66b668ea55_story.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131006063627/http://articles.washingtonpost.com/2013-09-16/world/42090392_1_opcw-chemical-stockpiles-sarin |url-status=live |archive-date=6 October 2013 |newspaper=Washington Post |date=16 September 2013 |title=In Syria, U.N. inspectors find 'clear and convincing' evidence of chemical attack |first1=Colum |last1=Lynch |first2=Karen |last2=DeYoung |access-date=11 March 2016}} The report, which was "careful not to blame either side," said that during the mission's work in the rebel controlled Zamalka and Ein Tarma neighborhoods, "individuals arrived carrying other suspected munitions indicating that such potential evidence is being moved and possibly manipulated."{{cite web|url=http://www.startribune.com/un-confirms-chemical-weapons-used-in-syria/223867501/ |title=UN finds 'convincing evidence' of chemical weapons used in Syria but assesses no blame |work=StarTribune |agency=AP |first=Edith M. |last=Lederer |date=16 September 2013 |access-date=11 March 2016}} The areas were under rebel control, but the report did not elaborate on who the individuals were.{{cite web|url=http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_24103873/us-seeks-wide-support-syria-arms-deal|title=UN confirms chemical weapons used in Syria|work=Denver Post|date=16 September 2013 }} The UN investigators were accompanied by a rebel leader:
{{quote|1=A leader of the local opposition forces [...] was identified and requested to take 'custody' of the Mission [...] to ensure the security and movement of the Mission, to facilitate the {{sic}} access to the most critical cases/witnesses to be interviewed and sampled by the Mission and to control patients and crowd in order for the Mission to focus on its main activities.}}
An August Scientific American article had described difficulties that could arise when attempting to identify the manufacturer of sarin from soil or tissue samples.{{cite web|url=https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/who-made-the-sarin/?id=who-made-the-sarin|title=Who Made the Sarin Used in Syria?|work=Scientific American|date=22 August 2013}} UN lead investigator Sellström told the UN Security Council that the quality of the sarin was higher than that used by Iraq in the Iran–Iraq War and stating "In particular, the environmental, chemical and medical samples we have collected provide clear and convincing evidence that surface-to-surface rockets containing the nerve agent sarin were used," a conclusion omitted in the final report,Reuters, 16 September 2013, [https://www.reuters.com/article/us-syria-crisis-un-idUSBRE98F0ED20130916 U.N. confirms sarin used in Syria attack; U.S., UK, France blame Assad] implying a purity higher than the Iraqi chemical weapons program's 45–60%.United Nations UNMOVIC, S/2006/701 – [https://www.un.org/depts/unmovic/new/documents/technical_documents/s-2006-701-munitions.pdf Overview of the chemical munitions recently found in Iraq] (By comparison, Aum Shinrikyo used nearly pure sarin in the 1994 Matsumoto incident.{{cite journal |pmc=1269427 |pmid=16137390 |doi=10.1186/cc3062 |volume=9 |title=Clinical review: Tokyo - protecting the health care worker during a chemical mass casualty event: an important issue of continuing relevance |year=2005 |journal=Crit Care |pages=397–400 |last1=Okumura |first1=S |last2=Okumura |first2=T |last3=Ishimatsu |first3=S |last4=Miura |first4=K |last5=Maekawa |first5=H |last6=Naito |first6=T|issue=4 |doi-access=free }}) According to Human Rights Watch, hundreds of kilograms of sarin were used in the attack, which it said suggested government responsibility, as opposition forces were not known to possess significant amounts of sarin.[https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/sep/16/sarin-attack-crimes-syria-justice The Guardian, 16 September 2013] The UN report states, "Chemical weapons use in such meteorological conditions maximizes their potential impact as the heavy gas can stay close to the ground and penetrate into lower levels of buildings and constructions where many people were seeking shelter."{{cite news |title=U.N. confirms sarin used in Syria attack; U.S., UK, France blame Assad |website=Reuters |date=16 September 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230701195128/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-syria-crisis-un-idUSBRE98F0ED20130916 |archive-date=2023-07-01 |url-status=live |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-syria-crisis-un-idUSBRE98F0ED20130916 |last1=Charbonneau |first1=Louis |last2=Nichols |first2=Michelle }}
=Responses=
The Russian government dismissed the initial UN report after it was released, calling it "one-sided" and "distorted".{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/19/world/middleeast/syria.html?_r=0|work=The New York Times|date=18 September 2013|access-date=18 September 2013|title=Russia Calls U.N. Chemical Report on Syria Biased}} On 17 September, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov reiterated his government's belief that the opposition carried out the attacks as a "provocation".{{cite news|last=Lichfield|first=John|title=Syria crisis: Regime has given Russia 'proof' of rebel chemical weapon use |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/syria-crisis-regime-has-given-russia-proof-of-rebel-chemical-weapon-use-8822185.html|newspaper=The Independent|date=17 September 2013|location=London}} The United Nations high representative for disarmament affairs, Angela Kane, stated that the inspection team would review Russia's objections.{{cite news|last1=Gladstone|first1=Rick|last2=Sengupta|first2=Somini|title=Missed Opportunity in Syria Haunts U.N. Official |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/03/world/middleeast/syria.html?_r=0|access-date=3 October 2013|newspaper=New York Times|date=2 October 2013}}
A Russian defence expert Ruslan Pukhov, said that the code found by the UN investigators on the M-14 munition showed it had been produced in 1967 by the Sibselmash plant in Novosibirsk for a BM-14-17 multiple rocket launcher. He said that these weapons had been taken out of service by Syria and replaced with BM-21s. The second projectile identified by weapons inspectors, he thought, looked to be 'home-made'.{{Cite news|url=https://www.ft.com/content/9a0f65cc-1f84-11e3-aa36-00144feab7de|title=Syria crisis: Lavrov urges wider probe into chemical weapons|newspaper=Financial Times|date=17 September 2013|last1=Clover|first1=Charles}} An Iranian chemical weapons expert, Abbas Foroutan, said in October 2013 that the UN should publish more details about the investigation than were provided in the report, including victims' pulse rates and blood pressure and their response to the atropine treatment, the victims' levels of acetylcholinesterase (sarin is an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor), and more technical details on the lab testing process.Foroutan's work was reviewed in Neurology in 2004 [http://www.neurology.org/content/62/9/1590.short by a US Army chemical weapons expert], and described as "the only firsthand clinical descriptions of battlefield nerve agent casualties in the world literature". – Sharmine Narwani and Radwan Mortada, mideastshuffle.com, 1 October 2010, [http://mideastshuffle.com/2013/10/01/cw-expert-opinion-on-the-un-report-on-syria/ CW Expert Opinion on the UN Report on Syria]
Further developments
The UN inspection team returned to the Damascus area to continue investigations into other alleged chemical attacks in late September 13. A final report on Ghouta and six other alleged attacks (including three alleged to have occurred after the Ghouta attack) was released on 13 December 2013.{{cite web|title=UN Final Report|url=https://documents-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/N13/617/84/PDF/N1361784.pdf?OpenElement|publisher=United Nations|date=13 December 2013|access-date=23 March 2023}}
In the months immediately following the August attacks, and the situation they precipitated, "Syria declared to the OPCW 30 production, filling and storage facilities, eight mobile filling units and three chemical weapons-related facilities.They contained approximately 1,000 metric tons of chemical weapons, mostly in the form of raw precursors, 290 metric tons of loaded munitions and 1,230 unfilled munitions, OPCW documents showed."{{cite web |first=Anthony |last=Deutsch|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-syria-crisis-chemical-idUSBRE9A40DY20131105 |title=Exclusive: Syria chemical weapons mission funded only through this month |publisher=Reuters |date=5 November 2013}}