On Sunday, the United States called on the Syrian regime to fully declare and destroy its chemical weapons program, in accordance with its international obligations.
This came in a statement issued by the US State Department today, on the occasion of the ninth anniversary of the Syrian regime’s bombing of the Ghouta of Damascus with chemical weapons.
The statement said, “Nine years ago, on the morning of August 21, 2013, the Syrian regime fired the poisonous sarin gas on Syrian civilians in the Ghouta area of Damascus, killing 1,400 people, most of them children.”
“Today, we recall this tragic incident and renew our commitment to holding the perpetrators accountable,” he added.
“We condemn in the strongest terms any use of chemical weapons anywhere, by anyone, and under any circumstances,” the statement added.
“Users of chemical weapons cannot get away with it, and the United States is using all available tools to promote accountability for such attacks,” he stressed.
Nine years ago today the Assad regime used chemical weapons in Ghouta, Syria, killing more than 1,400 and injuring many more. The regime must be held accountable for its actions and fully declare and destroy its chemical weapons program. #OPCW https://t.co/bb5pDCH4yD
— Ned Price (@StateDeptSpox) August 21, 2022
The statement noted that “the United States calls on the Assad regime to fully declare and destroy its chemical weapons program in accordance with its international obligations, and to allow the OPCW declaration assessment team to enter the country to ensure that Syria resolves all remaining concerns about its chemical weapons program.”
The statement concluded, “The United States strongly supports the international efforts led by Syrians to achieve justice for the countless atrocities committed against the Syrian people, some of which amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity.”
“We reaffirm our support for a comprehensive political solution to the Syrian conflict in line with UN Security Council Resolution 2254,” he added.
Resolution 2254 of December 18, 2015, calls on all parties to immediately cease attacks against civilian targets, and urges Security Council member states to support efforts to achieve a ceasefire.
Yesterday, Saturday, the Syrian Civil Defense (White Helmets) called to participate in the “Lighting Candles” event through social media, today, Sunday, under the hashtag (#Do not_choke_the_truth), to honor the victims of the chemical attacks on Ghouta of Damascus, which killed hundreds of civilians, including children.
So that the flame of justice does not go out
Participate with us in the “Lighting Candles” event and publishing it on social media on August 21, 2022, coinciding with the ninth anniversary of the Ghouta chemical massacre.
Participation details for the event: https://t.co/YE8HYvySqI#whitehelmets pic.twitter.com/CaosZ7LR5J— Syrian Civil Defense (@SyriaCivilDefe) August 18, 2022
“On the ninth anniversary of the massacre of Ghouta with chemical weapons, committed by the regime of Bashar al-Assad using poisonous sarin gas on August 21, 2013 – which killed more than a thousand civilians – we want to honor and commemorate the victims of the Ghouta attack and all the victims of chemical attacks around the world,” a statement said.
We want to highlight #Chemical_massacre in my ghouta #Damascus committed by the Assad regime on August 21, 2013 in order not to leave the atrocities in the dark, lighting the candles is a message that we will not forget.
Join us in the candle lighting event and spread it on social media: ????https://t.co/g9f9TLYOGL#don’t_choke_truth#whitehelmets pic.twitter.com/wZYrBhMzHs— Syrian Civil Defense (@SyriaCivilDefe) August 20, 2022
At that time, the Syrian opposition coalition accused the Assad regime of committing the massacre, and according to a report of the coalition, the regime forces were stationed inside the 155th Brigade in Qalamoun. At 2:31 am on August 21, 2013, they fired 16 surface-to-surface missiles loaded with toxic gases likely. It is sarin.