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Sarmin chemical attack
Part of the Syrian Civil War
Type	Chlorine attack
Location	Sarmin, Idlib Governorate, Syria 35°54′12″N 36°43′33″E / 35.90333°N 36.72583°E / 35.90333; 36.72583
Date	16 March 2015 around 22:30 to 23:00. (UTC+03:00)
Executed by	Syrian Arab Air Force
Casualties	6 killed
SarminLocation of Sarmin within Syria

The Sarmin chemical attack was a chlorine attack that took place on 16 March 2015, in the village of Sarmin in the Idlib Governorate of Syria.

Background

On 6 March 2015, the United Nations Security Council adopted resolution Resolution 2209, which condemns the use of chlorine as a weapon, and threatened to use force if it was used again.

Attack

At the time of the attack the town was under the control of Ahrar al-Sham. The village was struck by a chemical attack around 22:30 to 23:00 when two "barrel bombs" reportedly were dropped by helicopters on the village. One fell on an open field, while the other "fell through the ventilation shaft" of a partially built house, killing a family of six living in the basement of the house and injuring "dozens more".

The Syrian military has denied the claim, describing it as propaganda.

Responsibility

A year-long United Nations and OPCW inquiry found there was sufficient information to conclude that the Syrian Arab Air Force had used "makeshift weapons deployed from helicopters" that contained chlorine on the town of Talmenes in April 2014 and the town of Sarmin in March 2015.

Victims

A family of six, including three children under the age of three and their grandmother, died. A doctor in Sarmin said the manner of death indicated a gas, possibly chlorine.

See also

• Use of chemical weapons in the Syrian civil war

References

1. ^ Gladstone, Rick. Syria Used Chlorine in Bombs Against Civilians, Report Says. New York Times. August 24, 2016.
2. ^ Nichols, Michelle. U.N./OPCW inquiry blames Syria government for gas attacks, likely sanctions fight looms. Reuters. August 25, 2016.
3. "U.N. Security Council to vote on chlorine arms use in Syria". Reuters. 5 March 2015.
4. ^ "Third report of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons United Nations Joint Investigative Mechanism". 24 August 2016.
5. ^ Gordon, Noah. "Syria, Iraq, and the Specter of Chemical Warfare". The Atlantic.
6. "Syria conflict: Government accused of chlorine attack". BBC. 17 March 2015.
7. ^ "Monitor: Several dead in apparent gas attack in Syria". AlJazeera. 17 March 2015.

v t e Use of chemical weapons in the Syrian civil war
Chemical attacks	Khan al-Assal (March 2013) Jobar (April 2013) Saraqib (April 2013) Ghouta (August 2013) Jobar (August 2013) Ashrafiyat Sahnaya (August 2013) Kafr Zita (April 2014) Talmenes (April 2014) Sarmin (March 2015) Khan Shaykhun (April 2017) Douma (April 2018)
Investigations	Independent International Commission of Inquiry OPCW Fact-Finding Mission OPCW-UN Joint Investigative Mechanism UN Mission UN investigation of chemical weapons use in Ghouta US assessment of Syria's use of chemical weapons on August 21, 2013
Reactions	2017 Shayrat missile strike 2018 missile strikes against Syria Authorization for the Use of Military Force Against the Government of Syria Destruction of Syria's chemical weapons (OPCW-UN Joint Mission) International reactions to the Ghouta chemical attack UN Security Council Resolution 2118 UN Security Council Resolution 2209 UN Security Council Resolution 2235
See also	Barzah scientific research centre Chemical Weapons Convention Him Shanshar military installation Human rights violations during the Syrian Civil War July 2007 Syrian arms depot explosion Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) Shayrat Airbase Syria and weapons of mass destruction Syria chemical weapons program Syrian Scientific Studies and Research Center
Category:Chemical weapons in the Syrian civil war

• Chemical weapons attacks
• Idlib Governorate in the Syrian civil war
• Military operations of the Syrian civil war involving chemical weapons