Israeli military intelligence officers also believe Syrian government forces were behind the attack, Israeli defence officials told the Associated Press. Israel believes Assad has tonnes of chemical weapons still in his arsenal, despite a concerted operation three years ago by the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons to rid the Government of its stockpile, according to the officials. Medical teams also reported smelling bleach on survivors of the attack, suggesting chlorine gas was also used, Doctors Without Borders said. The images from the scene were reminiscent of a 2013 nerve gas attack on the suburbs of Damascus that left hundreds dead and prompted an agreement brokered by the US and Russia to disarm Assad's chemical stockpile. A top Syrian rebel representative said he held UN mediator Staffan De Mistura "personally responsible" for the attack.

Source: New Zealand Herald April 06, 2017 17:03 UTC