45+ dead and hundreds injured in chemical attack in Douma, Syria

[NightWatcher]

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-syria-attack/rebels-say-syrian-forces-dropped-chemicals-on-douma-government-denies-accusation-idUSKBN1HE0RR

Rebels blame Assad regime for attack south of the capital or Syria.

Twitter is posting pictures and accounts from the town (Warning, graphic)

I wonder if any of this has anything to do with trump saying he'll pull out, empowering Assad.

[Igel]

1. The assault on the area started a while back.

It's not near where US troops are.

The area was divided up fairly quickly into three sections. Two have fallen. A ceasefire was reached and they attempted to negotiate the withdrawal of one of the Islamist groups in Douma. The group was promised--whether a reliable promise or not, who knows--that they'd be allowed to leave without problem and the territory retaken by Assad's men. The group said no.

The population is a question mark. Many support the rebels; many do so because they fear Assad; many fear Assad for good reason; many fear Assad because of propaganda. But the area is adjacent to Damascus and constituted both a source of missile fire, possible insurgents, and was a hindrance to mobility in and out of the capital. It's also apparently a food-producing area.

Chemical weapons have been used regardless of Trumpian utterances. The US' stance is just not that important.

It's still likely that Trump's statement is merely a continuation of his rhetoric ("we'll beat ISIS and bring the troops home&quot or because of Manbij.

[NightWatcher]

2. Thanks for the info, I have been woefully behind on Syria

I was afraid that Assad would feel empowered by trump's capitulating to putin's wishes.

[applegrove]

3. ****!

[lpbk2713]

4. Everyone is a target in a chemical attack.

Women, children, babies, elderly.

Only a coward would use such a weapon.