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17. Throughout 2016, Syrian air forces launched air strikes using chlorine bombs in eastern Aleppo city. There is no information to support the claim that the Russian military ever used any chemical weapons in the Syrian Arab Republic. While civilians exposed to chlorine may exhibit symptoms similar to those exposed to vesicants, such as sulphur mustard, chlorine gas was identified as the most likely agent in several cases.
18. Both the Syrian forces and armed groups used improvised and craft-produced weapons. Improvised weapons, such as air-delivered munitions (including barrel bombs), rocket-assisted munitions and mortars, are relatively inaccurate and imprecise, and are often highly explosive. Large improvised air-delivered munitions were employed solely by the Syrian air force. Improvised rocket-assisted munitions and mortars were primarily employed by armed groups. The use of both resulted in extensive civilian casualties.
35. Further allegations regarding the use of chemicals (likely chlorine) on 1 October are also supported by victim accounts. One ambulance worker described how he and others experienced difficulty breathing after a bomb with a “strong smell” was dropped. Others described seeing yellow powder, which is consistent with chlorine residue. Images of the aftermath show remnants of a PTAB-1M cluster munition carried by an RBK-500 cluster bomb containing 268 sub-munitions. The presence of an improvised air-delivered munition with a chemical payload strongly suggests that the attack was conducted by government forces. In addition to the war crime of intentionally targeting protected objects, the attack amounts to the war crime of indiscriminate attacks against the civilian population (see annex I, paras. 20-23).
52. The Commission investigated numerous incidents of allegations of improvised chlorine bombs dropped from helicopters, which resulted in civilian casualties. In none of the incidents reviewed did information gathered suggest the involvement of Russian forces. Given that the incidents reported were all the result of air-delivered bombs, it is concluded that these attacks were carried out by Syrian air forces. The use of chlorine by Syrian forces follows a pattern observed in 2014 and 2015 (see S/2016/738).
54. On 6 September, at approximately 1 p.m., an improvised chlorine bomb was airdelivered in al-Sukkari district. A man and a 13-year-old girl died as a result of asphyxiation, while more than 80 civilians suffered from the effects of chlorine inhalation. Eyewitnesses saw helicopters hovering in the sky when the bomb was dropped, while those in the vicinity began suffocating and their eyes became red shortly afterwards. Witnesses further reported a strong odour resembling domestic detergents. Available footage shows individuals, including women, children and an elderly man, receiving oxygen, and remnants of the improvised chemical munition. The attack was carried out by Syrian forces.
55. Between 8 and 12 December, reports of toxic chemicals being dropped in al-Kalasa neighbourhood emerged daily. One physician treating victims of the attack on 8 December in Al-Kalasa recalled he also treated patients from the Bustan al-Qasr and al-Firdous districts that day. Eyewitnesses saw bombs being dropped by helicopters at around 4 p.m. and a yellow gas leak from the barrels. A pungent accompanying odour was also reported. Thirty-five victims, including women and children, reportedly suffered from symptoms consistent with chlorine inhalation, including hypoxia, bronchospasms and respiratory failure.
Conclusions 94. Parties to the battle for Aleppo committed serious violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law amounting to war crimes. As pro-Government forces and armed groups fought for control of eastern Aleppo city, civilians caught in the fighting were increasingly left vulnerable to repeated violations by all sides.
17. Throughout 2016, Syrian air forces launched air strikes using chlorine bombs in eastern Aleppo city. There is no information to support the claim that the Russian military ever used any chemical weapons in the Syrian Arab Republic. While civilians exposed to chlorine may exhibit symptoms similar to those exposed to vesicants, such as sulphur mustard, chlorine gas was identified as the most likely agent in several cases.
18. Both the Syrian forces and armed groups used improvised and craft-produced weapons. Improvised weapons, such as air-delivered munitions (including barrel bombs), rocket-assisted munitions and mortars, are relatively inaccurate and imprecise, and are often highly explosive. Large improvised air-delivered munitions were employed solely by the Syrian air force. Improvised rocket-assisted munitions and mortars were primarily employed by armed groups. The use of both resulted in extensive civilian casualties.
35. Further allegations regarding the use of chemicals (likely chlorine) on 1 October are also supported by victim accounts. One ambulance worker described how he and others experienced difficulty breathing after a bomb with a “strong smell” was dropped. Others described seeing yellow powder, which is consistent with chlorine residue. Images of the aftermath show remnants of a PTAB-1M cluster munition carried by an RBK-500 cluster bomb containing 268 sub-munitions. The presence of an improvised air-delivered munition with a chemical payload strongly suggests that the attack was conducted by government forces. In addition to the war crime of intentionally targeting protected objects, the attack amounts to the war crime of indiscriminate attacks against the civilian population (see annex I, paras. 20-23).
52. The Commission investigated numerous incidents of allegations of improvised chlorine bombs dropped from helicopters, which resulted in civilian casualties. In none of the incidents reviewed did information gathered suggest the involvement of Russian forces. Given that the incidents reported were all the result of air-delivered bombs, it is concluded that these attacks were carried out by Syrian air forces. The use of chlorine by Syrian forces follows a pattern observed in 2014 and 2015 (see S/2016/738).
54. On 6 September, at approximately 1 p.m., an improvised chlorine bomb was airdelivered in al-Sukkari district. A man and a 13-year-old girl died as a result of asphyxiation, while more than 80 civilians suffered from the effects of chlorine inhalation. Eyewitnesses saw helicopters hovering in the sky when the bomb was dropped, while those in the vicinity began suffocating and their eyes became red shortly afterwards. Witnesses further reported a strong odour resembling domestic detergents. Available footage shows individuals, including women, children and an elderly man, receiving oxygen, and remnants of the improvised chemical munition. The attack was carried out by Syrian forces.
55. Between 8 and 12 December, reports of toxic chemicals being dropped in al-Kalasa neighbourhood emerged daily. One physician treating victims of the attack on 8 December in Al-Kalasa recalled he also treated patients from the Bustan al-Qasr and al-Firdous districts that day. Eyewitnesses saw bombs being dropped by helicopters at around 4 p.m. and a yellow gas leak from the barrels. A pungent accompanying odour was also reported. Thirty-five victims, including women and children, reportedly suffered from symptoms consistent with chlorine inhalation, including hypoxia, bronchospasms and respiratory failure.
Conclusions 94. Parties to the battle for Aleppo committed serious violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law amounting to war crimes. As pro-Government forces and armed groups fought for control of eastern Aleppo city, civilians caught in the fighting were increasingly left vulnerable to repeated violations by all sides.
