Syrian Chemical Attack Is Assad's Message To The World, Activists Say

The gruesome chemical weapons attack that left scores dead in Syria this week was not only a gross violation of international law ― it was also a bold display of defiance to world leaders, activists and humanitarian workers say.

Warplanes dropped toxic gas over the residential area of Khan Sheikhoun in opposition-held Idlib early Tuesday morning, killing up to 100 people, including young children, while leaving hundreds more to suffer from respiratory injuries.

Devastating video and



images show people writhing in pain, slowly convulsing and foaming at the mouth on the ground. Soon after the initial assault, airstrikes blasted a nearby hospital where victims were being treated.

Humanitarian groups and Western governments, including the Trump administration in Washington, have concluded that Syrian President Bashar Assad’s regime is responsible for the exceptionally grotesque massacre, and have issued fierce condemnations. The Syrian military has denied responsibility for the attack.