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I'm still on a quest for a definitive written statement from the OPCW that the Syrian regime bombed Khan Sheikhoun on April 4, 2017. Mohammad Idrees Ahmad, in an article here <https://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/syria-2018-iraq-2003-180419144317070.html>, links to another Al Jazeera article here <https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/10/panel-blames-syrian-forces-khan-sheikhoun-attack-171026212414046.html> from October 26, 2017 on the Commission of Inquiry on the Republic of Syria's forthcoming report, which Al Jazeera headlines thus: "Syrian Forces Behind Khan Shaikhoun Gas Attack: UN Probe". However, I cannot find the referenced report anywhere. What I did find was this written statement by Paulo Sergio Pinheiro, who is the chairman of the COI on Syria: [Begin quote] We stress that the vast majority incidents in which civilians are killed and maimed involve the unlawful use of conventional arms, in particular through indiscriminate aerial bombardments using cluster munitions and explosive weapons in civilian populated areas. We have a duty under our mandate, however, to document the unambiguously illegal use of prohibited chemical weapons, in blatant violation of international law and attribute responsibility accordingly. Reporting on such heinous crimes and human rights violations is at the very core of our work. Silence is also a statement and we cannot remain silent in such matters. In several instances, Government forces used chemical weapons against civilians in opposition-held areas, including in Khan Shaykhun (Idlib) on 4 April. In accordance with our well-established methodology, we gathered extensive evidence including dozens of interviews, photos of remnants and satellite imagery and concluded that Syrian aircraft dropped a sarin bomb in Khan Shaykhun killing over 80 individuals, mostly women and children, and injuring hundreds more. This attack took place during a Syrian and Russian aerial campaign in northern Hama and southern Idlib, which targeted medical facilities. As a result, these facilities could not provide adequate assistance to victims of sarin on 4 April." [End quote] _________________________________________________________ Full posting guidelines at: http://www.marxmail.org/sub.htm Set your options at: http://lists.csbs.utah.edu/options/marxism/archive%40mail-archive.com
