Watchdog: Chlorine Was Used in Syria’s Chemical Attack

The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons determined that chlorine was used in the chemical attack in the Syrian town of Douma, but found no evidence that nerve agents were involved. The OPCW wrote in a release that “various chlorinated organic chemicals” and explosive residue were found during fact-finding missions in Douma, but no traces of “organophosphorus nerve agents or their degradation products” were found on the bodies of the deceased. April’s attack, allegedly conducted by forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, killed over 40 and more than 500 others sought treatment in hospitals. Six days later, the U.S. conducted airstrikes in and around Damascus and Homs—which Trump claimed were “associated with the chemical weapons capabilities.” The Syrian government has denied orchestrating the attack, and has claimed it was “staged” with help from the U.K.