If there were more doubts about the criminal character of Bashar al-Assad's regime against his own people, the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) drove the point home.

According to a highly anticipated report by OPCW investigators, "there are reasonable grounds to believe" that at least one Syrian Air Force helicopter dropped two barrels of poison gas on the town of Douma, near Damascus, during the civil war in 2018. A chlorine attack that killed 43 people and sparked tensions between Damascus and the West.

Damascus and its ally Moscow had claimed the attack was staged by relief workers at the request of the United States, which launched airstrikes on Syria days later along with the United Kingdom and France.

But the OPCW said its investigators had "considered a series of possible scenarios" and concluded that "the Syrian Arab Air Force is the perpetrator of this attack".

"The use of chemical weapons in Douma - and elsewhere - is unacceptable and constitutes a violation of international law," OPCW Director General Fernando Arias said in a statement.

"The world now knows the facts - it is up to the international community to act, at the OPCW and beyond," he added.

Video and satellite evidence

"At least one Syrian Arab Air Force Mi-8/17 helicopter, departing from Dumayr Airbase and operating under the control of the Tiger Forces, dropped two yellow cylinders, which hit two buildings residential in a central area of ​​the city,” the report reads.

A cylinder hit a roof, 'ruptured and rapidly released toxic gas, chlorine, in very high concentrations, which rapidly dispersed throughout the building, killing 43 identified people and affecting dozens more “, says the report.

The second cylinder slammed into an apartment, partially split open and "started to slowly release chlorine, slightly affecting those who arrived on the scene first", he added.

Investigators analyzed samples taken from the scene, interviewed survivors and witnesses, and conducted ballistics tests, including "cylinder drop tests."

They also examined video and photographic evidence, satellite images, computer diagrams and solicited experts.

No staging

Si Damascus and Moscow, have repeatedly denied that there was an attack in Douma.

They accused rebels and rescuers of staging the attack and bringing dead bodies to the scene.

They also claimed that an Islamist chemical weapons factory had been hit.

But OPCW investigators said there was no evidence to support the claims.

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The team "meticulously examined the investigative leads and scenarios suggested by the Syrian authorities and other states parties (to the OPCW), but could not obtain concrete supporting information", the organization said.

The OPCW also says it "regrets" that Syria refused to allow it access to the site to investigate, despite various requests and Damascus' obligations under the Chemical Weapons Convention.

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