Orang-orang, dipengaruhi oleh apa yang aktivis katakan adalah gas saraf, yang dirawat di sebuah hospital di kejiranan Duma di Damsyik 21 Ogos 2013. (People, affected by what activists say is nerve gas, are treated at a hospital in the Duma neighbourhood of Damascus August 21, 2013. Reuters (think IN pictures @1WORLDCommunity)
AsSalam'MadyanYong - Laporan serangan kimia besar-besaran berhampiran Damsyik sebagai pemerhati PBB tiba di Syria. Laporan yang bercanggah muncul senjata kimia baru-baru ini digunakan dalam Syria.
Ini datang pada hari yang sama bahawa pemeriksa PBB tiba di Damsyik untuk menyiasat dakwaan penggunaan senjata toksik. Angka mangsa terdiri daripada berpuluh-puluh kepada hampir 1,300 kematian.
(AMARAN: ARTIKEL YANG MENGANDUNGI PHOTOS GRAPHIC)
Pada mulanya, Al ‘Arabiya mencatatkan berita 280 mangsa di Twitter. Kemudian, keluar berita dipertingkatkan angka sehingga 1,188 mangsa, Free Syrian Army memetik.
Balai Cerap Syria bagi Hak Asasi Manusia mempunyai angka yang lebih rendah, yang mendakwa berpuluh-puluh orang terbunuh, termasuk kanak-kanak.
Agensi-agensi berita seperti Reuters dan AP kebanyakannya meletakkan bilangan mangsa di beratus-ratus, tetapi mengatakan bahawa laporan-laporan tidak boleh disahkan secara bebas.
George Sabra, Presiden Majlis Kebangsaan Syria - kumpulan pembangkang utama Syria - mendakwa bahawa sesetengah 1,300 orang terbunuh dalam serangan tentera kerajaan berhampiran Damsyik pada hari Rabu, dan mendakwa bahawa senjata kimia yang telah digunakan.
Bercakap pada sidang akhbar di Istanbul, Sabra juga mendakwa ia adalah “bukan kali pertama rejim telah menggunakan senjata kimia.” Beliau menambah bahawa beliau dianggap serangan Rabu satu “titik perubahan” dalam operasi ketenteraan Assad, mendakwa bahawa bahan kimia yang telah digunakan “untuk penghapusan bukannya keganasan.”
Sementara itu, seorang wartawan RT Arabic berjaya menghubungi beberapa penduduk tempatan yang mengatakan mereka tidak menyaksikan apa-apa “serangan beracun” di kawasan itu. Walau bagaimanapun, mereka menunjukkan bahawa tembakan boleh didengar.
Pihak berkuasa Syria mengeluarkan satu kenyataan berkata terdapat “ada kebenaran sekalipun” laporan senjata kimia gunakan berdekatan Damsyik. Kejadian itu dilaporkan berlaku di Ghouta, di wilayah Belt pertanian hijau di sekitar ibu negara Syria. Rantau Ghouta di pinggir Damsyik terkenal kerana kecenderungan pembangkang dan telah menjadi tapak pertempuran masa lalu di antara kerajaan dan pemberontak.
“Jabhat Al ‘Nusra telah mempunyai kehadiran yang lama di sana dan rantau ini telah ditanggung beban tekanan ketenteraan yang berterusan untuk beberapa bulan sekarang,” Charles Lister, seorang penganalisis di Keganasan IHS Jane dan Pusat Pemberontakan, memberitahu Reuters, merujuk kepada Sunni tegas kumpulan pemberontak Islam bersekutu dengan Al ‘Qaeda.
‘Reports of massive chemical attack near Damascus as UN observers arrive in Syria’ Syrian activists inspect the bodies of people they say were killed by nerve gas in the Ghouta region, in the Duma neighbourhood of Damascus August 21, 2013. ‘Reuters (think IN pictures @1WORLDCommunity)
Reports of massive chemical attack near Damascus as UN observers arrive in Syria. Conflicting reports emerged of recent chemical weapons use in Syria. This comes on the same day that the UN inspectors arrive in Damascus to investigate allegations of use of toxic arms. The casualty figures range from dozens to almost 1,300 deaths.
(WARNING: THE ARTICLE CONTAINS GRAPHIC PHOTOS)
Initially, Al-Arabiya posted news of 280 victims on Twitter. Later, the news outlet upgraded the figure up to 1,188 victims quoting the Free Syrian Army.
‘Reports of massive chemical attack near Damascus as UN observers arrive in Syria’ Syrian activists inspect the bodies of people they say were killed by nerve gas in the Ghouta region, in the Duma neighbourhood of Damascus August 21, 2013. Reuters (think IN pictures @1WORLDCommunity)
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights had a much lower figure, claiming dozens of people were killed, including children.
News agencies such as Reuters and AP mostly put the numbers of victims at hundreds, but say that reports can't be independently verified.
George Sabra, the president of the Syrian National Council – Syria’s main opposition group – claimed that some 1,300 people were killed in government forces attacks near Damascus on Wednesday, and alleged that chemical weapons were used.
Speaking at a news conference in Istanbul, Sabra also claimed it was “not the first time the regime has used chemical weapons.” He added that he considered the Wednesday attack a “turning point” in Assad’s military operations, alleging that the chemical were used “for annihilation rather than terror.”
Meanwhile, an RT Arabic correspondent managed to contact some locals who say they haven't witnessed any “poisonous attack” in the area. However, they point out that gunfire can be heard.
‘Reports of massive chemical attack near Damascus as UN observers arrive in Syria’ A boy, affected by what activists say is nerve gas, is treated at a hospital in the Duma neighbourhood of Damascus August 21, 2013. Reuters (think IN pictures @1WORLDCommunity)
Syrian authorities issued a statement saying there is “no truth whatsoever” to reports of chemical weapons use near Damascus. The incident reportedly took place in Ghouta, on the green agricultural belt territory surrounding the Syrian capital. The Ghouta region on the outskirts of Damascus is known for its opposition inclinations and has been the site of past clashes between government forces and the rebels.
“Jabhat al-Nusra has had a long-time presence there and the region has borne the brunt of sustained military pressure for months now," Charles Lister, an analyst at IHS Jane's Terrorism and Insurgency Center, told Reuters, referring to a hardline Sunni Islamist rebel group allied to al-Qaeda.
The European Union has called for a "thorough and immediate" investigation of an alleged chemical attack in Syria.
"We have seen with grave concern the reports of the possible use of chemical weapons by the Syrian regime. Such accusations should be immediately and thoroughly investigated," said EU foreign policy spokesman, Catherine Ashton.
"The EU reiterates that any use of chemical weapons, by any side in Syria, would be totally unacceptable."
‘Reports of massive chemical attack near Damascus as UN observers arrive in Syria’ A handout image released by the Syrian opposition's Shaam News Network shows bodies of children and adults laying on the ground as Syrian rebels claim they were killed in a toxic gas attack by pro-government forces in eastern Ghouta, on the outskirts of Damascus on August 21, 2013. (AFP Photo –think IN pictures @1WORLDCommunity)
The news emerged on the day UN inspectors arrive in Damascus to examine suspected cases of chemical weapons use in the war-torn country.
The UN expert and the head of the current mission to Damascus, Swedish scientist Ake Sellstrom, told news agency TT that while he had only seen TV footage, the high number of casualties reported sounded suspicious.
"It sounds like something that should be looked into," he told TT by phone. "It will depend on whether any UN member state goes to the secretary-general and says we should look at this event. We are in place."
He said that the high numbers of killed and wounded being reported are "suspicious."
Among those who also voiced their concern are the Arab league spokesman and UK foreign secretary William Hague.
