Image source: Syrian Civil Defense
The victims and families affected by the chemical weapon attack on Douma, in the Damascus countryside, continue to wait for accountability for the perpetrators of the attack, which led to the city’s displacement, now marking its sixth year.
On April 7, 2018, at least 43 civilians were killed, with dozens more, mostly women and children, affected by two attacks that occurred at approximately 3 PM and 8 PM.
The chemical attack targeted Douma in Eastern Ghouta, which had been under a strict siege by the regime forces and their allies (Russia and Iran) for five years. The OPCW’s investigation team concluded that the attack aimed to regain control of the city of Douma.
Several days before the attack, an agreement was reached between the regime forces and opposition factions in Douma, allowing civilians and some lightly armed opposition fighters to leave the city while those who wished to stay could settle their status. However, the negotiations stalled.
Five days after the chemical attack, regime forces took control of Douma, and the city’s residents fled to opposition-held areas in northern Syria.
On January 27, 2023, the OPCW released its third report on the Douma chemical attack, concluding that the Syrian regime was responsible for the attack, which involved the use of two cylinders filled with toxic chlorine gas. These cylinders were dropped by an aircraft belonging to the “Tiger Forces,” which took off from the Dumayr Airport in the eastern Damascus countryside.
Russia has repeatedly attempted to distort and deny the facts surrounding the use of chlorine gas in Douma in 2018, relying on a policy of questioning the OPCW’s ability to perform its investigative duties regarding chemical attacks in Syria.
The Chemical Violations Documentation Center of Syria (CVDCS) affirms that it possesses conclusive evidence and testimonies that firmly confirm the use of chemical weapons in Douma by the Syrian regime.
chemical_attack chemical_weapons douma opcw syria
