Syrian regime 'attacks Damascus suburb with gas'

The Syrian regime targeted the western Damascus suburb of Moadamiyeh on Tuesday evening with internationally prohibited weapons, according the Civil Defence Crew in the southern quarter of the city.

Local activist Firas al-Doumi told The New Arab that regime helicopters dropped the barrel bombs containing poisonous gas on the besieged Damascus suburb on Tuesday evening.

At least ten civilians, including women and children, have died of asphyxiation and bleeding from the lungs according to the initial reports of the town's medical clinic.

Thirty others have been wounded in the attack.

The Assad regime dropped barrel bombs containing poisonous gas on the town's southern neighbourhoods that have seen intense fighting in recent weeks, said the Syrian National Coalition in a statement issued on Wednesday.

"While the Syrian Coalition strongly condemns this crime, it denounces the international community’s silence over this heinous act," the statement said.

"This continued silence is seen by Assad as a green light to commit more crimes against the Syrian people."

A number of Syrian activists posted pictures and videos of the victims who do not exhibit any signs of external injuries on Facebook and Twitter.

Moadamiyeh is a Free Syrian Army stronghold that is surrounded by areas under regime control and has been under regime siege for over two years.

On 21 August 2013, hundreds of people were killed in the east and southwest of Damascus, including in the neighbourhood of Moadamiyeh, in chemical weapons strikes after Syrian troops launch an offensive in the area.

The opposition accused the Syrian army, but the government denied responsibility.

However, a US intelligence report published later that month blamed the Syrian regime for the chemical attack that killed 1,429 people, including 426 children.

A September 2013 report by the UN reports said there is clear evidence that sarin gas was used on August 21.