Syria Chemical Weapons: Opposition Says Syrian Forces Fired Chemical Weapons At Rebels

[oberliner]

Source: Reuter (via HuffPo)

in Town Of Adra

AMMAN, March 25 (Reuters) - Syrian opposition campaigners said on Monday Syrian forces fired what they said were chemical weapons from multiple rocket launchers at rebels surrounding an army base in the town of Adra on the outskirts of Damascus, killing two fighters and wounding 23.

"Doctors are describing the chemical weapon used as phosphorus that hits the nervous system and causes imbalance and loss of consciousness. The two fighters were very close to where the rockets exploded and they died swiftly. The rest are being treated with Atropine," said Mohammad al-Doumani, an activist in the nearby town of Douma, where the wounded were transported.

There was no independent confirmation of the attack, which follows the death of 26 people in a rocket attack near the city of Aleppo last week. The authorities and rebels accused each other of firing a missile carrying chemicals there

Read more: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/24/syria-chemical-weapons-opposition-reports-adra_n_2945719.html

[Posteritatis]

1. Pretty sure they're referring to something other than phosphorus there...

Seeing as that's not a chemical weapon per se and has rather less subtle, ah, effects. (Atropine isn't a good treatment for being on fire.)

Phosgene, maybe? Or some other lost-in-translation?

Of course, anything about this at the moment is probably going to be way too confused to get anything resembling a clear picture anytime soon. Incendiaries, nerve gas, or just plain high explosives, the whole thing sucks either way.

[formercia]

7. Organophosphate Agent such as VX?

Atropine would be indicated there.

[Posteritatis]

12. Could be. That'd be a pretty roundabout way to misstate it though.

Most people just call VX VX.

Phosphorus would suck enough on its own of course, though pretty much everyone uses that as a conventional weapon.

[Malik Agar]

13. VX is some nasty stuff

I just Youtubed VX videos being tested on animals. This shit aint no joke.

[daleo]

2. They better not call phospherus a chemical weapon

Since the U.S. military used that in Iraq.

[Purveyor]

5. And israel during the Lebanon attack, well reported on this site. eom

[Spitfire of ATJ]

9. Then there was Gaza....

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/interactive/2009/jan/21/gaza-israelandthepalestinians

[David__77]

3. What's coming out of this is desensitizing the Western public to "chemical weapons."

I mean, the insurgents keep making all sorts of wild claims that are not born out by facts. One of these days, there may just be such an attack, for real, and it wouldn't cause a mere two deaths.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

4. Things are coming to a head in Syria...

Assad's top general leaves him.

Reports come in that Assad's forces are raping, torturing and murdering children.

A small chemical weapon hits a government checkpoint which is described as chlorine.

A suicide bomber explodes in a mosque taking out the big time cleric Assad had on his side.

Assad claims he's under attack by terrorists and vows he's going to purge all extremists.

The Arab League gives Assad's seat to the Rebels.

A rumor that Assad is assassinated.

Syrian TV has shut down.

Another report of chemical weapons where both sides accuse each other.

Then, in the middle of this Canada asks Assad to step down.

We all know Canada was the final straw.

[oberliner]

6. How will this play out?

What do you see as the end result?

[Spitfire of ATJ]

8. Sanity. Which means the Saudis are next.

[oberliner]

10. How about Jordan?

Will that monarchy hold on?

[Spitfire of ATJ]

11. They have a benevolent reputation....

The queen has done a lot for children.

But still,...when you have a ruler that claims they derive their power by being a direct descendant of Muhammad.

Imagine if we had someone in this country that claimed they should rule because they were a direct descendant of Jesus.