Tag: chemical

Syria ‘chemical’ attack: what we know

BEIRUT, Lebanon (AFP) — The missile strike against a Syrian airbase marks the first time the United States has directly attacked the regime of President Bashar al-Assad. Here is what we know so far about the target and the outcome of the strike. The target  At 3:40 am Syria time on Friday (0040 GMT), the US military fired 59 Tomahawk missiles at the Shayrat airfield near Homs in central Syria. According to the Pentagon, as well […]

Tillerson vows ‘appropriate response’ to Syria suspected chemical attack

WEST PALM BEACH, United States (AFP) — United States Secretary of State Rex Tillerson on Thursday said Washington would make an “appropriate response” to Tuesday’s suspected chemical attack in Syria, while calling for the ouster of President Bashar al-Assad. “We are considering an appropriate response (to the) violations of all previous UN resolutions, violations of international norms,” he said in televised comments at the Palm Beach International Airport in Florida, where he greeted Chinese President […]

Outrage as Syria ‘chemical attack’ kills dozens in rebel-held town

by Omar Haj Kadour KHAN SHEIKHUN, Syria (AFP) — A suspected chemical attack in rebel-held northwestern Syria killed dozens of civilians including children and left many more sick and gasping on Tuesday, causing international outrage. The attack on the town of Khan Sheikhun killed at least 58 civilians and saw dozens suffer respiratory problems and symptoms including vomiting, fainting and foaming at the mouth, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group said. Syria’s opposition […]

Russia, China veto UN resolution on Syria sanctions

UNITED NATIONS, United States (AFP) — Russia and China on Tuesday vetoed a United Nations resolution backed by Western powers that would have imposed sanctions on Syria over chemical weapons use. The measure drafted by Britain, France and the United States won nine votes in favor at the Security Council, while three countries opposed it — China, Russia and Bolivia. Kazakhstan, Ethiopia and Egypt abstained. UN resolutions require that there be nine positive votes and […]

Kim Jong-Nam killed by VX nerve agent: Malaysia police

by Frederick ATTEWILL Agence France Presse KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AFP) — North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un’s half brother was assassinated with a lethal nerve agent manufactured for chemical warfare and listed by the UN as a weapon of mass destruction, Malaysian police said Friday. Releasing a preliminary toxicology report on Kim Jong-Nam’s murder at Kuala Lumpur airport, police revealed the poison used by the assassins was the odourless, tasteless and highly toxic nerve agent VX. […]