OPCW report blames Assad for chemical attacks in Syria for first time, ‘opening door’ for fresh sanctions

New report says Assad’s air force was behind three 2017 sarin and chlorine attacks on an opposition-held town which resulted in 100 casualties, Bel Trew reports.

An unconscious Syrian child waits for treatment at a hospital in Khan Sheikhun, a rebel-held town in the northwestern Idlib province, following a suspected gas attack on 4 April (Getty)

The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) has released its first report blaming Bashar al-Assad’s forces for sarin and chlorine gas attacks on civilians in Syria, opening the door for countries to impose fresh sanctions.

The damning findings were published on Wednesday by the OPCW’s investigation team, known as the IIT, which was established two years ago and awarded new powers to apportion blame.

Wednesday’s report found that the Syrian Arab Air Force, following orders from the “highest levels”, dropped sarin nerve gas and chlorine on ​Ltamenah three times on 24 March, 25 March and 30 March in 2017, resulting in over 100 casualties.