Alleged Chemical Attack, August 21, 2013

On the morning of August 21, 2013, rebel and opposition reports claim, at least three areas of the Damascus countryside (Reef Dimashq) were subjected to unspecified chemical gas attack from Syrian government forces. Initial reports described dozens dead in a attacks on Ghouta, a broad region of several small towns and fields between. The areas of Irbin, Moadamiya, and Zamalka have been specified in different reports, most of which cite plural attacks across Gouta. Opposition reports cite a combined death toll as high as 650, per the Local Coordinating Committees, later in the day climbing up to 1400, and there are photos and videos of apparent casualties running at least well into the dozens, including women and children. The reports came exactly one year and a day after Obama's often-cited "red line" speech of August 20, 2012 and just two days after the arrival in Damascus of the United Nations chemical weapons investigation team set to look into the March 19 Khan al-Assal gas attack and two others, apparently in in Homs and one outside Damascus. The government has always favored them having a look at the attack in Khan al-Assal, which was complicated by a rebel re-conquest and possible massacre of witnesses to their gas attack there. Their mission is set to last only two weeks.