Photoblog: Syria's Khan Sheikhoun residents mark anniversary of deadly sarin attack

The chemical assault on the rebel-held town was one of the most shocking of Syria's seven-year war, causing global outrage and rare retaliatory airstrikes by the US.

Residents of Khan Sheikhoun and members of the Syrian Civil Defence forces took a silent stand on Wednesday to commemorate the innocent civilians killed in the deadly gas attack, gathering at the location which regime planes targeted.

In addition to the dead, more than 540 civilians were injured after being exposed to the poisonous gas, including at least 15 Civil Defence volunteers.

International efforts to prevent chemical attacks in Syria in the year since the deadly sarin attack on Khan Sheikhoun have failed, rights groups say.

The Syrian regime is responsible for the majority of the 85 confirmed chemical weapon attacks in the country's war.

[Aaref Watad]

[Aaref Watad]

"Chemical weapons, bombings, forced displacement - international silence is complicity in Assad's crimes."

[Aaref Watad]

"We demand the world intervenes to stop the killing and displacement."

[Aaref Watad]

At least 33 children were killed in the deadly sarin gas attack, while 540 people were injured.

[Aaref Watad]

[Aaref Watad]

"The murder of Syrian children will haunt you forever."

[Aaref Watad]

[Aaref Watad]

One of the signs reads: "A year has passed since the chemical massacre and the murderer walks free with international backing."

[Aaref Watad]

[Aaref Watad]