Jobar sarin attack explained

Jobar sarin attack
Partof:the Syrian Civil War
Type:Sarin attack
Location:Jobar, Rif Dimashq Governorate, Syria
Coordinates:33.5311°N 36.3372°W
Map Type:Syria
Map Size:250
Map Label:Jobar
Date:24 August 2013
Time:around 11:00
Injuries:24

The Jobar sarin attack took place on 24 August 2013 around 11:00 in Jobar, a suburb of the Syrian capital city Damascus.

Background

Jobar is a suburb of Syria's capital city Damascus. The suburb is located approximately 3km (02miles) northeast of the Damascus city center.

Attack

On 24 August 2013, a group of Syrian Army soldiers were clearing buildings from opposition forces in Jobar. Around 11:00, the intensity of the shooting from the opposition side subsided and the soldiers believed the rebels were retreating. Then, an improvised explosive device detonated with a low noise about 10 meters from them. The IED reportedly released "a very badly smelling gas".

10 soldiers were injured and evacuated to the nearest medical point where they were treated with intravenous fluids and oxygen before being sent to Martyr Yusuf Al Azmah Military Hospital for further treatment. Four of them were severely affected. Another 20 soldiers came later with similar symptoms, but they were in stable condition and could, after some time, be sent back to their units.[1] All patients received "atropine, HI-6, steroids, oxygen therapy and fluids treatment."[1]

Aftermath

The UN mission received soil samples from the impact site and remnants of two IEDs allegedly used to disperse the chemical agent. The soil samples tested positive for sarin. However, the UN mission "could not verify the chain of custody for this sampling and subsequent analysis".[1] On 30 August 2013, the UN mission visited the affected soldiers at a military hospital.[2]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: United Nations Mission on Investigate Allegations of the Use of Chemical Weapons in the Syrian Arab Republic. 6 February 2014. United Nations. 13 December 2013.
  2. News: U.N. inspectors arrive at military hospital in Damascus. Reuters. 30 August 2013.