Alleged Chemical Attack, March 16, 2015

On the night of March 16, 2015, six members of a family, including three small children, were allegedly killed in a Syrian government poison gas attack in or near Sarmin (alt. Sermine, etc.), in Idlib province. The chlorine gas attack reportedly effected dozens of other civilians and some rebel fighters, and eyewitnesses say the gas came from an improvised "barrel bombs" dropped by the Syrian military from a helicopter. That aerial aspect is widely taken as proving the government, and not anyone on the other side, deployed chlorine - and it's presumed that in turn is just what killed the family, named as Taleb.

However, these allegations were leveled by media and medical activists of the anti-government camp, and passed on with little added and apparently with no questions - effectively laundered - by sources like Amnesty International and Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF). One prominent activist swiftly informed John Kerry via twitter that his statement about having to negotiate with Assad in the end contributed to their death.

However, the past research of this research community strongly urges greater skepticism and scrutiny of claims like this. In this case, members Pmr9 and Pierpont, with relevant expertise, conclude the symptoms seen with the Taleb children and grandmother are not consistent with chlorine poisoning. What is responsible is not as certain, but one fully consistent "best guess" is the opiate Meperidine, U.S. brand name Demerol. This, clearly, would not be delivered from a "barrel bomb," but most likely by injection. (See below, or talk page, various sections, for the moment)

The Victims
The victims are said to be Warf Mohammad Taleb, his mother Ayoush Hassan Qaq, his wife Ala al-Jati, and their three children: Sara Taleb, A’isha Taleb, and Mohamad Taleb. [2] Nothing is independently known about them, or even if these are their true names. The baby Mohammed is of an unusual fair complexion; red hair and perhaps blue-gray eyes.

Symptoms Point Away From Chlorine
(forthcoming) .