Idlib Left Breathless: The Chemical Attack in Khan Sheikhoun


​On April 24th, the world watched as the Syrian Regime dropped Sarin gas on civilians in the rebel held town of Khan Sheikhoun, leaving 87 dead. In a recent report entitled, Idlib Left Breathless: The Chemical Attack in Khan Sheikhoun, the Syrian Accountability Project (SAP) discusses the chemical weapons used in the attack and the effect it had on civilians.
 
The Syrian Accountability Project (SAP) report details the chemical attack in its entirety. They report that the warplanes began to fly over the town of Khan Sheikhoun at 6:30AM, with civilians experiencing respiratory problems shortly after. Symptoms included gasping for air and staggered breathing. The official toll now stands at 87 people dead, including 28 children, and more than 500 injured.
 
The chemical attack on April 4th was not the first time the Syrian Regime reportedly used Sarin gas against thier civilians. Reports have been made since 2012 about the use of chemical weapons in Syria. While President Obama tried to dispose of chemical weapons when claiming his "red line," nothing was done after the disposal to stop Assad from his continued use of the gas. 
 
​Sarin gas is a chemical that is specifically designed to attack the body's neurotransmitters. Sarin can be lethal in many cases and can cause respiratory failure and lung paralysis. The world was shocked by the videos displaying the symptoms of Sarin gas on the children of Syria after the April 4th attack.
 
The SAP reports that the Syrian state media has placed blame for the release of chemical weapons on militant facilities." The Syrian state media claims that the Syrian, Russian militaries made airstrikes on a militant facility used to produce chemical bombs, and the airstrikes released the chemicals
 
The SAP is an organization utilizes numerous eye witness accounts, news reports and other reputable sources to compile evidence against the Syrian Regime. They are an organization based out of Syracuse University College of Law, dedicated to gathering evidence of human rights violations in Syria. The 45 member team is staffed by I Am Syria Vice President, Law Professor and former Chief Prosecutor, David Crane. ​
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​04-17-2017
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Authors
Kaitlyn Degnan Andrew Dieselman Kseniia Guliaeva Casey Kooring Zachary Lucas Sean Mills Colin Tansits 

Contributors 
Project Leader:
​Prof David Crane

Executive Director: Zachary Lucas Chief

Registrar: Kaitlyn Degnan Chief

​Investigator: Sean Mills