Dozens injured from suspected chemical attack in Damascus suburb
At least 97 people have suffered from "suffocation" due to inhalation of unknown gases in the Damascus suburb of Moadamiyeh as the regime escalates its campaign on the town.
2 min read
Media activists shared the images of the injured suffering from suffocation [twitter]
On Sunday dozens of people suffered from "suffocation" in the besieged Damascus suburb of Moadamiyeh as intense bombardment continues to target tens of thousands of civilians trapped in the city.
"The army blew up a tunnel today under residential neighbourhoods on the eastern side of the city, accompanied by barrel bombing from helicopters," Abu Kinan, a member of the local council told The New Arab.
The explosives contained undetermined gases, the substance of which has not been confirmed but local activists suspect the use of chlorine.
The gas lead to the injury of 97 people suffering from suffocation, including seven from the civil defence working in ambulances.
Those affected suffered from symptoms including foaming at the mouth, nervous tension and an absence of visible external wounds.
Abu Kinan also said that Assad militias have been launching a fierce campaign to break into the south-east region of the city with seven tanks, while bombing of the southern neighbourhoods of Moadamiyeh continued.
The development came after the regime army failed to separate the road between Moadamiyeh and the neighbouring opposition-held city of Daraya last week.
The city has since been bombarded with around 60 barrel bombs a day and more than 200 mortar rounds and more than 35 rockets.
The suburb has been under siege, causing the deaths of at eight people of starvation as many resident’s lives continue to be in danger.
The news comes as the opposition the Syrian opposition delegation said it will not participate in any peace talks if no progress is made on the humanitarian front, said the spokesman for the Higher Negotiations Committee [HNC] on Sunday.
"The army blew up a tunnel today under residential neighbourhoods on the eastern side of the city, accompanied by barrel bombing from helicopters," Abu Kinan, a member of the local council told The New Arab.
The explosives contained undetermined gases, the substance of which has not been confirmed but local activists suspect the use of chlorine.
The gas lead to the injury of 97 people suffering from suffocation, including seven from the civil defence working in ambulances.
Those affected suffered from symptoms including foaming at the mouth, nervous tension and an absence of visible external wounds.
Abu Kinan also said that Assad militias have been launching a fierce campaign to break into the south-east region of the city with seven tanks, while bombing of the southern neighbourhoods of Moadamiyeh continued.
The development came after the regime army failed to separate the road between Moadamiyeh and the neighbouring opposition-held city of Daraya last week.
 |
Media activists from Moadamiyeh shared images and videos showing the injured while receiving first aid. |  |
The suburb has been under siege, causing the deaths of at eight people of starvation as many resident’s lives continue to be in danger.
The news comes as the opposition the Syrian opposition delegation said it will not participate in any peace talks if no progress is made on the humanitarian front, said the spokesman for the Higher Negotiations Committee [HNC] on Sunday.
Follow the Middle East's top stories in English at The New Arab on Google News
More In News
![Israeli forces ordered bombed Gaza's Jabalia, ordering residents to leave [Getty]](/sites/default/files/styles/image_156x88/public/2176418030.jpeg?h=a5f2f23a&itok=srmqckaL)
