Syria Gets Toxic

The use of chemical weapons on Syrian citizens has grave implications for world peace

CHILDREN convulsing and foaming at the mouth as they struggle to breathe, infants wailing in agony and doctors looking frazzled and helpless because there are just too many patients needing their help.

Once you see the horrific footage it burns into your brain and you never forget it. The world is used to harrowing footage coming out of Syria but a video clip of the aftermath of the recent attack caused an international storm of protest aimed at the Syrian government.

Residents of the small town of Douma – the last rebel-held stronghold near Syria’s capital, Damascus – are used to having to hunker down in basements as bombs rain down, but as yellow canisters fell from the sky earlier this month it soon became clear this was no “routine” attack. Instead of a loud bang there was a sinister hissing noise and a strange smell filled the air.

“It was spicy,” Umm Nour recalls. “Like chilli. I was vomiting and coughing. No one could breathe. Around me people were just falling to the ground.”

She was lucky to make it out alive with her husband and seven-year-old twin daughters but many weren’t so fortunate. It’s estimated more than 40 people – mainly children – died in the gruesome attack while hundreds more were injured.

Experts believe President Bashar al-Assad's forces used chemical weapons on the citizens of Douma – possibly sarin gas in conjunction with chlorine. How could a government do this to its own people?

In recent months American president Donald Trump has adopted a more hands-off approach to the Syrian crisis but the sickening footage seemed to prompt a dramatic about-turn. In his trademark style the volatile president unleashed a Twitter storm of fire and fury in which he threatened Assad and hurled insults at Syria’s allies, Russia and Iran.