The Fact-Finding Mission of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) has issued a report on two incidents in Aleppo: one in the Al-Hamdaniya neighborhood on October 30 and another in the Karm al-Tarab neighborhood on November 13, 2016.
The mission published its report on July 2, 2018 (S/1642/2018), confirming that there were no chemical agents involved in the incidents at Al-Hamdaniya and Karm al-Tarab. The mission concluded that the affected individuals may have been exposed to a non-permanent irritant.
The OPCW Secretariat received two separate notes verbales (Nos. 109 and 113) from the Syrian government. Note No. 109 reported three poison gas attacks in the Hamdaniya neighborhood and the Assad suburb on October 31 (later clarified to have occurred on October 30). Note No. 113 detailed an attack in Karm al-Tarab on November 13, 2016, leading to the assignment of a fact-finding mission (FFM) team to investigate.
Upon arriving in Syria, the fact-finding team examined, collected, and copied documents and records provided by the Syrian government. They also included a news report from Russia as part of their records.
The team documented the sample delivery process, ensured proper handling, and began collecting information related to the incidents, such as accident reports, medical records of victims, names of affected individuals, and the identities of hospital staff involved in their treatment. However, the team was unable to visit the sites of the two incidents for on-site testing.
The team also gained access to the Center for Scientific Studies and Research in Barzeh, Damascus, to examine unexploded ordnance and environmental samples collected by the Syrian authorities.
Al-Hamdaniya Incident (October 30, 2016)
According to the mission’s report, on October 30, 2016, at around 10:30 a.m., civilian and military casualties began arriving at Al-Razi Hospital, Aleppo University Hospital, and Aleppo Military Hospital. Aleppo University Hospital continued to receive casualties until the following day (October 31). Most patients were discharged within one to two days, while others remained hospitalized for three to five days, with the longest stay recorded at ten days.
The report concluded that no chemical agents were present in the Al-Hamdaniya neighborhood. While the statements from victims and medical personnel aligned with the mission’s findings, and similar symptoms were reported among approximately 60 victims, none exhibited severe symptoms, and there were no fatalities.
Karm al-Tarab Incident (November 13, 2016)
According to the mission’s report, on November 13, 2016, several members of the Syrian army inhaled “toxic chemical gases” and were treated at Aleppo University Hospital and Aleppo Military Hospital following fighting in the Karm al-Tarab neighborhood.
The mission reviewed several documents containing laboratory analysis results for acetylcholinesterase levels in blood samples from individuals associated with the reported incident. These results indicated normal activity of the enzyme acetylcholinesterase.
The report concluded that no chemical agents were involved in Karm al-Tarab. While the statements from victims and medical personnel matched those deduced by the mission, and similar symptoms were reported among approximately 40 victims, none exhibited severe symptoms, and there were no fatalities.
The mission team believed that the individuals affected in these reported incidents may have been exposed to a non-permanent irritant.
Aleppo chemical_attack chemical_weapons FFM opcw syria
