Douma chemical attack: Difference between revisions

| name = Douma chemical attack

| partof = the [[Rif Dimashq offensive (February–April 2018)]], [[Siege of Eastern Ghouta]], [[Syrian Civilcivil Warwar]]

| image = সিরিয়ার দেবশিশু ০১.jpg

| scope =

| type = [[Chemical warfare]],<ref name=OPCW-FFM-Mar2019 />{{rp|9.12}} [[airstrike]]<ref name=OPCWinterim>{{cite report |author=OPCW Technical Secretariat |author-link=OPCW |date=2018 |title=Note by the Technical Secretariat Update on the Fact-Finding Mission in Syria |url=https://www.opcw.org/sites/default/files/documents/2019/05/s-1755-2019.pdf |publisher=Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons |access-date=3 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190816200603/https://www.opcw.org/sites/default/files/documents/2019/05/s-1755-2019.pdf |archive-date=16 August 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref>{{rp|3.1}}

| location = [[Douma, Syria|Douma]], [[Rif Dimashq Governorate]], [[Syria]]

| coordinates = {{coord|33|34|16|N|36|24|17|E}}

| map_type = Syria

| map_size = 250

| map_caption = Location of Douma within Syria

| map_label = Douma

| planned =

| planned_by =

| commanded_by =

| objective =

| target =

| date = 7{{Start Aprildate and age|2018|04|07|df=yes}}

| time = 19:30 <ref name=IICI2018report />

| time-begin =

| time-end =

| timezone = [[UTC+03:00]]

| executed_by = {{flagiconair force|Syria}} [[Syrian Air Force]]{{efn|name=opcw}}<ref name="suffocate">{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/08/world/middleeast/syria-chemical-attack-ghouta.html |title=Dozens Suffocate in Syria as Government Is Accused of Chemical Attack |first=Ben |last=Hubbard |date=8 April 2018 |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |access-date=8 April 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180409025126/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/08/world/middleeast/syria-chemical-attack-ghouta.html |archive-date=9 April 2018 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }}</ref><ref name="BBCApr12" />

| outcome = [[2018 missile strikes against Syria|US, UK, France launch retaliatory missile strikes]]

| casualties =

| fatalities = 41<ref name=ICRCReviewNaqvi>{{cite journal |last1=Naqvi |first1=Yasmin |title=Crossing the red line: The use of chemical weapons in Syria and what should happen now |journal=International Review of the Red Cross |date=7 February 2019 |volume=99 |issue=906 |pages=959–993 |doi=10.1017/S1816383118000450 |s2cid=150958989 |url=https://www.icrc.org/en/download/file/93054/906_7.pdf |access-date=4 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190704155219/https://www.icrc.org/en/download/file/93054/906_7.pdf |archive-date=4 July 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="BBC FFM Mar 2019">{{cite news |title=Syria war: Chlorine likely to have been used in Douma attack -– OPCW |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-47424266 |access-date=4 July 2019 |workagency=BBC News |agency=BBC |date=1 March 2019 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190302125017/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-47424266 |archive-date=2 March 2019}}</ref><ref name=OPCW-FFM-Mar2019>{{cite report |author=OPCW Technical Secretariat |author-link=Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons |date=1 March 2019 |title=Report Of The Fact-Finding Mission Regarding The Incident Of Alleged Use Of Toxic Chemicals As A Weapon In Douma, Syrian Arab Republic, On 7 April 2018 |url=https://www.opcw.org/sites/default/files/documents/2019/03/s-1731-2019%28e%29.pdf |publisher=Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons |access-date=1 June 2019 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190311212235/https://www.opcw.org/sites/default/files/documents/2019/03/s-1731-2019(e).pdf |archive-date=11 March 2019 |id=S/1731/2019 }}</ref>{{rp|9.5}}–49<ref name=IICI2018report /> reported

| injuries = 100<ref name="French Intel 2018">{{cite report |date=14 April 2018 |title=Chemical attack of 7 April 2018 (Douma, Eastern Ghouta, Syria) |url=https://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/IMG/pdf/180414_-_syria_-fr_national_assessment-_english-version_cle0c76b5.pdf |publisher=[[Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs (France)|Ministère de l'Europe et des Affaires étrangères]] |page=2 |location=Paris |access-date=3 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180507185029/https://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/IMG/pdf/180414_-_syria_-fr_national_assessment-_english-version_cle0c76b5.pdf |archive-date=7 May 2018}}</ref>–650<ref name=IICI2018report />

On 7 April 2018, a [[chemical warfare]] attack was carried outlaunched by the forces of the government of [[Bashar al-Assad]] in the [[Syrian]] city of [[Douma, Syria|Douma]], [[Syria]].<ref name=OPCW-FFM-Mar2019 />{{rp|9.12}} Medics and witnesses reported that it caused the deaths of between 40 and 50 people<ref name=OPCW-FFM-Mar2019 />{{rp|9.5}}<ref name=ICRCReviewNaqvi />{{rp|971}}<ref name="BBC FFM Mar 2019" /> and injuries to possibly well over 100.<ref name="French Intel 2018" /><ref name=IICI2018report /> The attack was attributed to the [[Syrian Army]] by rebel forces in Douma, and by the [[Federal government of the United States|United States]], [[Government of the United Kingdom|British]], and [[Government of France|French]] governments.<ref name=reuters>{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-syria/trump-says-ordered-precision-strikes-against-syria-chemical-weapons-capabilities-idUSKBN1HJ0ZS|title=Trump says ordered precision strikes against Syria chemical weapons|work=Reuters|access-date=14 April 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180414032815/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-syria/trump-says-ordered-precision-strikes-against-syria-chemical-weapons-capabilities-idUSKBN1HJ0ZS|archive-date=14 April 2018|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref name="washington_post">{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/us-launches-missile-strikes-in-syria/2018/04/13/c68e89d0-3f4a-11e8-974f-aacd97698cef_story.html|title=U.S. launches missile strikes in Syria|first1=Anne|last1=Gearan|first2=Missy|last2=Ryan|date=13 April 2018|newspaper=The Washington Post|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180414012259/https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/us-launches-missile-strikes-in-syria/2018/04/13/c68e89d0-3f4a-11e8-974f-aacd97698cef_story.html|archive-date=14 April 2018|df=dmy-all}}</ref> TwoA two-year long investigation ofby the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) Investigation and Identification Team (IIT) concluded in January 2023 that the [[Syrian Air Force]] perpetrated the [[chemical attack]]s during its military campaign in Douma.{{Efn|name=opcw|Sources:

* {{Cite journalreport |date=27 January 2023 |title=Third Report by the OPCW Investigation and Identification Team |url=https://www.opcw.org/sites/default/files/documents/2023/01/s-2125-2023%28e%29.pdf |journal= |pages=2–139 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230127111959/https://www.opcw.org/sites/default/files/documents/2023/01/s-2125-2023(e).pdf |archive-date=27 January 2023 |via=OPCW}}

* {{Cite news |date=27 Jan 2023 |title=OPCW blames Syria gov’tgov't for 2018 chlorine gas attack in Douma |work=Al Jazeera |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/1/27/opcw-blames-syria-government-forces-for-2018-douma-chlorine-gas-attack}}

* {{Cite news |last=Loveluck |first=Louisa |date=27 Jan 2023 |title=Syrian army responsible for Douma chemical weapons attack, watchdog confirms |worknewspaper=Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/01/27/syria-chemical-weapons-douma-opcw/}}

According to [[Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons]] (OPCW) and [[United Nations]] investigations, both the [[Syrian Arab Republic]]'s forces and [[Islamic State]] militants have used [[chemical weapons]] during the conflict.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/timeline-chemical-weapons-attacks-syria-54367351|title=Timeline of chemical weapons attacks in Syria|workwebsite=[[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]] |agency=ABC News|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180418031513/https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/timeline-chemical-weapons-attacks-syria-54367351|archive-date=18 April 2018|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-syria-opcw-timeline/timeline-of-investigations-into-syrias-chemical-weapons-idUSKBN1HG1M7|title=Timeline of investigations into Syria's chemical weapons|work=Reuters|access-date=17 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180418031511/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-syria-opcw-timeline/timeline-of-investigations-into-syrias-chemical-weapons-idUSKBN1HG1M7|archive-date=18 April 2018|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/news/world/timeline-syria-chemical-weapons-civil-war-article-1.3020430|title=A timeline of Syria's chemical weapons use in civil war|website=[[New York Daily News]] |date=5 April 2017 |access-date=17 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180421061246/http://www.nydailynews.com/news/world/timeline-syria-chemical-weapons-civil-war-article-1.3020430|archive-date=21 April 2018|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}</ref> [[Human Rights Watch]] has documented 85 [[Use of chemical weapons in the Syrian Civil War|chemical weapons attacks in Syria]] since 2013, and its sources indicate the Syrian government is responsible for the majority.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/niallmccarthy/2018/04/16/how-many-chemical-attacks-have-been-documented-in-syria-infographic/#dd3f6265a1ed|title=How Many Chemical Attacks Have Been Documented In Syria? [Infographic]|first=Niall|last=McCarthy|website=[[Forbes]] |access-date=17 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180417192856/https://www.forbes.com/sites/niallmccarthy/2018/04/16/how-many-chemical-attacks-have-been-documented-in-syria-infographic/#dd3f6265a1ed|archive-date=17 April 2018|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}</ref> People reported incidents of chemical weapons use specifically in Douma in January 2018; Russia vetoed a potential United Nations mission to investigate.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/2018/01/23/middleeast/us-russia-un-chemical-weapons-syria/index.html|title=Things got heated between the US and Russia today at the UN|first=Richard |last=Roth|date=24 January 2018 |publisher=CNN|access-date=9 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180409110220/https://www.cnn.com/2018/01/23/middleeast/us-russia-un-chemical-weapons-syria/index.html|archive-date=9 April 2018|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>[https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/u-s-has-no-evidence-of-syrian-use-of-sarin-gas-mattis-says U.S. has no evidence of Syrian use of sarin gas, Mattis says] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180409141641/https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/u-s-has-no-evidence-of-syrian-use-of-sarin-gas-mattis-says |date=9 April 2018 }}. PBS, 2 February 2018</ref> The [[Arms Control Association]] reported two smaller [[Chlorine gas poisoning|chlorine gas]] attacks in Douma on 7 March and 11 March.<ref name="Arms control">{{cite web |url=https://www.armscontrol.org/taxonomy/term/17 |title=Timeline of Syrian Chemical Weapons Activity, 2012–2018 |publisher=[[Arms Control Association]] |first1=Daryl |last1=Kimball |first2=Kelsey |last2=Davenport |date=April 2018 |access-date=11 April 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180412082646/https://www.armscontrol.org/taxonomy/term/17 |archive-date=12 April 2018 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}</ref>

Douma had been under rebel control since 18 October 2012,<ref name="Capture of Douma">{{cite news|last=Di Giovanni|first=Janine|title=Denial Is Slipping Away as War Arrives in Damascus|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/18/world/middleeast/syrian-war-reaches-damascus.html?pagewanted=2&_r=1&smid=tw-share&&pagewanted=print|date=18 October 2012|newspaper=The New York Times|access-date=20 October 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160203040632/http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/18/world/middleeast/syrian-war-reaches-damascus.html?pagewanted=2&_r=1&smid=tw-share&&pagewanted=print|archive-date=3 February 2016|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}</ref> and, with the rest of the Eastern Ghouta region, [[Siege of Eastern Ghouta|under siege]] since April 2013.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-43343266|title=UN convoy delivers aid to Eastern Ghouta amid 'calm'|date=9 March 2018|work=BBC News|access-date=21 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180625211054/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-43343266|archive-date=25 June 2018|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}</ref> The [[Rif Dimashq offensive (February–April 2018)]], code-named Operation Damascus Steel, a [[Offensive (military)|military offensive]] launched by the [[Syrian Arab Army]] (SAA) and its allies on 18 February 2018 to capture the rebel-held territory.<ref name="kill71">{{cite news|last=Osborne|first=Samuel|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/syria-civil-war-assad-regime-killed-air-striked-wounded-eastern-ghouta-rebel-damascus-a8218001.html|title=Syrian government air strikes kill 71 and wound 325 in 24 hours, monitor says|date=19 February 2018|work=The Independent|access-date=20 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180408132826/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/syria-civil-war-assad-regime-killed-air-striked-wounded-eastern-ghouta-rebel-damascus-a8218001.html|archive-date=8 April 2018|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref name="ready">{{cite web|url=http://www.france24.com/en/20180218-syria-forces-ready-assault-rebel-enclave|title=Syria forces ready for assault on rebel enclave|date=18 February 2018|publisher=France 24|access-date=20 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180220151841/http://www.france24.com/en/20180218-syria-forces-ready-assault-rebel-enclave|archive-date=20 February 2018|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}</ref> The [[Jaysh al-Islam]] rebel coalition controlled Douma.<ref>"[http://www.dw.com/en/which-rebel-groups-are-fighting-in-syrias-eastern-ghouta/a-42663501 Which rebel groups are fighting in Syria's eastern Ghouta?] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180227083307/http://www.dw.com/en/which-rebel-groups-are-fighting-in-syrias-eastern-ghouta/a-42663501 |date=27 February 2018 }}". Deutsche Welle. 20 February 2018.</ref><ref name="aljazeera">"[https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/04/syria-state-media-jaish-al-islam-agrees-leave-ghouta-douma-180401115350429.html Reports of Douma evacuation deal 'not true': council member] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180408113609/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/04/syria-state-media-jaish-al-islam-agrees-leave-ghouta-douma-180401115350429.html |date=8 April 2018 }}". Al-Jazeera. 1 April 2018.</ref><ref name="SBS">"[https://www.sbs.com.au/news/who-are-the-rebel-groups-fighting-in-syria-s-eastern-ghouta Who are the rebel groups fighting Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's government forces in Eastern Ghouta?] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180408065540/https://www.sbs.com.au/news/who-are-the-rebel-groups-fighting-in-syria-s-eastern-ghouta |date=8 April 2018 }}" SBS News. 2 March 2018.</ref> By mid-March, rebel territory in Eastern Ghouta had reduced to three pockets, one in the south around [[Hamouria]] held by [[Faylaq al-Rahman]]; a second in the west around [[Harasta]] held by [[Ahrar al-Sham]]; as well as Douma in the north held by Jaysh al-Islam.<ref name="BBC">[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-43414348 Syria war: Thousands flee Eastern Ghouta as army advances] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180628111042/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-43414348 |date=28 June 2018 }}, BBC, 15 March 2018</ref> In the second half of March, the other two pockets were secured via evacuation deals between the rebels, Syria, and Russia.<ref>[https://www.afp.com/en/news/826/thousands-flee-ghouta-rebel-enclave-syria-army-advances-doc-12k4je3 Thousands flee Ghouta rebel enclave as Syria army advances] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180316154116/https://www.afp.com/en/news/826/thousands-flee-ghouta-rebel-enclave-syria-army-advances-doc-12k4je3 |date=16 March 2018 }}, AFP</ref><ref>{{cite webnews|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-syria-evacuation/syrian-rebels-reach-evacuation-deal-in-eastern-ghouta-town-rebel-sources-idUSKBN1GW39R|title=Syrian rebels agree to evacuate town in Ghouta: sources|work=Reuters|date=21 March 2018 |access-date=24 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180322080224/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-syria-evacuation/syrian-rebels-reach-evacuation-deal-in-eastern-ghouta-town-rebel-sources-idUSKBN1GW39R|archive-date=22 March 2018|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref name="deal agreed">{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/mar/23/ceasefire-deal-agreed-in-syrias-eastern-ghouta|date=23 March 2018|title=Ceasefire deal agreed in Syria's eastern Ghouta|access-date=18 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180418060405/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/mar/23/ceasefire-deal-agreed-in-syrias-eastern-ghouta|archive-date=18 April 2018|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}</ref> On 31 March, the last of the evacuations was conducted and the Syrian army declared victory in Eastern Ghouta, while the rebels that were still holding out in Douma were given an ultimatum to surrender by the end of the day.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/state-tv-towns-syrias-ghouta-cleared-rebels-54144500|title=Syrian army declares victory as rebels vacate most of Ghouta|website=[[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]] |agency=[[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]] |access-date=18 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180403054239/https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/state-tv-towns-syrias-ghouta-cleared-rebels-54144500|archive-date=3 April 2018|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

A chemical attack in Douma occurred on 7 April 2018. The Union of Medical Care and Relief Organizations, a humanitarian organization that supervises medical services in the region, attributed seventy deaths to the attack. On-site medics reported smelling a [[chlorine gas|chlorine]]-like odour, but that symptoms and death toll pointed to something more noxious such as [[sarin]] nerve agent caused the deaths.<ref name="auto">{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/04/08/dozens-reported-dead-chemical-attack-insyria-us-blames-russia/|title=Russia blames Israel for attack on Syrian air base as pressure mounts over gas atrocity|first1=Chris|last1=Graham|first2=Charlotte|last2=Krol |first3=Rob|last3=Crilly|first4=Josie|last4=Ensor|first5=Steven|last5=Swinford|first6=Ben |last6=Riley-Smith|first7=Louis|last7=Emanuel|date=8 April 2018|access-date=9 April 2018|viawork=www.telegraph.co.ukTelegraph|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180409010530/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/04/08/dozens-reported-dead-chemical-attack-insyria-us-blames-russia/|archive-date=9 April 2018|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}</ref> A video from the scene showed dead men, women, and children with foam at their mouths.<ref name="BBC April 8" />

The [[Syrian American Medical Society]] (SAMS) reported over 500 injured people at Douma "were brought to local medical centers with symptoms indicative of exposure to a chemical agent."<ref>{{cite news|title=Dozens killed in apparent chemical weapons attack on civilians in Syria, rescue workers say|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/dozens-killed-in-apparent-chemical-weapons-attack-on-civilians-in-eastern-ghouta--rescue-workers/2018/04/08/231bba18-3ac0-11e8-af3c-2123715f78df_story.html|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|date=8 April 2018|access-date=9 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180412014259/https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/dozens-killed-in-apparent-chemical-weapons-attack-on-civilians-in-eastern-ghouta--rescue-workers/2018/04/08/231bba18-3ac0-11e8-af3c-2123715f78df_story.html|archive-date=12 April 2018|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}</ref> SAMS also said a chlorine bomb struck a Douma hospital, killing six people, and that another attack with "mixed agents" affected a building nearby.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.dw.com/en/dozens-dead-in-suspected-chemical-weapons-attack-in-syria/a-43296814|title=Dozens dead in suspected chemical weapons attack in Syria|publisher=[[dw.com]]|date=8 April 2018|access-date=9 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180408114300/http://www.dw.com/en/dozens-dead-in-suspected-chemical-weapons-attack-in-syria/a-43296814|archive-date=8 April 2018|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}</ref> According to the Syrian opposition groups, witnesses also reported a strong smell of chlorine and said effects appeared stronger than in previous similar attacks.<ref name=WPapr11>{{cite web|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2018/04/11/chlorine-sarin-or-something-else-the-big-questions-in-alleged-syrian-chemical-weapons-attack/|title=Chlorine, sarin or something else? The big questions in the alleged Syrian chemical weapons attack.|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=11 April 2018|access-date=11 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180412094954/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2018/04/11/chlorine-sarin-or-something-else-the-big-questions-in-alleged-syrian-chemical-weapons-attack/|archive-date=12 April 2018|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}</ref> Syrian opposition activists also posted videos of yellow compressed gas cylinders that they said were used during the attack.<ref name=WPapr11 /> Based on the symptoms and the speed with which the victims were affected, medical workers and experts suggested either a combination of chlorine with another gas or a nerve agent was used.<ref name=WPapr11 /> Several medical,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-syria-ghouta/syrian-rebels-evacuated-from-douma-reach-northwest-monitor-idUSKBN1HH19M |title=Syrian rebels evacuated from Douma reach northwest: monitor |work=[[Reuters]] |date=10 April 2018 |access-date=11 April 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180411070450/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-syria-ghouta/syrian-rebels-evacuated-from-douma-reach-northwest-monitor-idUSKBN1HH19M |archive-date=11 April 2018 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }}</ref> monitoring, and activist groups<ref name="bbc">{{cite news|title=Suspected Syria chemical attack kills 70|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-43686157|access-date=8 April 2018|workagency=BBC News|date=8 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180408004357/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-43686157|archive-date=8 April 2018|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}</ref>—including the [[White Helmets (Syrian Civil War)|White Helmets]]—reported that two [[Syrian Air Force]] [[Mil Mi-8|Mi-8]] helicopters dropped [[barrel bombs]] on the city of [[Douma, Syria|Douma]].<ref>{{cite webnews|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-43686157|title=Suspected Syria chemical attack kills 70|work=BBC News |date=8 April 2018|via=www.bbc.com|access-date=21 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180412001321/http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-43686157|archive-date=12 April 2018|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Lusher|first=Adam|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/syria-chemical-weapons-attack-latest-sarin-douma-eastern-ghouta-nerve-agent-chlorine-russia-us-uk-a8294741.html|title=Syrian government accused of using nerve agents as death toll from Douma 'chemical weapons attack' rises|date=8 April 2018|work=The Independent|access-date=11 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180412082234/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/syria-chemical-weapons-attack-latest-sarin-douma-eastern-ghouta-nerve-agent-chlorine-russia-us-uk-a8294741.html|archive-date=12 April 2018|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.cnn.com/2018/04/07/middleeast/syria-suspected-chemical-attack/index.html |title=Dozens dead in possible gas attack in Syria; regime denies allegation |first=Steve |last=Almasy |publisher=[[CNN]] |date=8 April 2018 |access-date=10 April 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180412163548/https://www.cnn.com/2018/04/07/middleeast/syria-suspected-chemical-attack/index.html |archive-date=12 April 2018 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/dozens-killed-in-apparent-chemical-weapons-attack-on-civilians-in-eastern-ghouta--rescue-workers/2018/04/08/231bba18-3ac0-11e8-af3c-2123715f78df_story.html |title=Dozens killed in apparent chemical weapons attack on civilians in Syria, rescue workers say |date=8 April 2018 |first1=Louisa |last1=Loveluck |first2=Erin |last2=Cunningham |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=9 April 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180412014259/https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/dozens-killed-in-apparent-chemical-weapons-attack-on-civilians-in-eastern-ghouta--rescue-workers/2018/04/08/231bba18-3ac0-11e8-af3c-2123715f78df_story.html |archive-date=12 April 2018 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/11/world/middleeast/syria-chemical-attack-douma.html|title=In a Syrian Town, People Started Shouting: 'Chemicals! Chemicals!'|last=Hubbard|first=Ben|date=2018-04-11|work=The New York Times|access-date=2019-03-13|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331|quote=A network of citizen observers that tracks Syrian aircraft said that two Mil Mi-8 helicopters, which they said belonged to the Syrian government, had been seen flying from the Dumayr air base toward Douma near the time of the attack.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190302114101/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/11/world/middleeast/syria-chemical-attack-douma.html|archive-date=2 March 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> The bombs caused severe convulsions in some residents and suffocated others.<ref name="BBC April 8">{{cite web | url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-43691291 | title=Syria war: Trump condemns Syria for 'chemical attack' on Douma | publisher=BBC | date=8 April 2018 | access-date=8 April 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180408194759/http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-43691291 | archive-date=8 April 2018 | url-status=live | df=dmy-all }}</ref>

In the early hours of 9 April 2018, an air strike was conducted against [[Tiyas Military Airbase]].<ref>[https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-43694588 Syria conflict: Strikes hit Syrian airfield, state media report] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180412094420/http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-43694588 |date=12 April 2018 }}, BBC, 9 April 2018</ref><ref>[https://www.reuters.com/article/us-meast-crisis-syria-airfield/syria-says-suspected-u-s-missiles-fired-at-air-base-washington-denies-strike-idUSKBN1HG04Q Syria says suspected U.S. missiles fired at air base; Washington denies strike] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180409171452/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-meast-crisis-syria-airfield/syria-says-suspected-u-s-missiles-fired-at-air-base-washington-denies-strike-idUSKBN1HG04Q |date=9 April 2018 }}, Reuters, 9 April 2018</ref> Two Israeli [[F-15I]] jets reportedly attacked the airfield from Lebanese airspace, firing eight missiles, of which five were intercepted, according to claims by Russia.<ref>[https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-04-09/syria-base-is-hit-after-suspected-chemical-weapons-attack Russia Says Israel Carried Out Missile Attack on Syrian Base] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180409173035/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-04-09/syria-base-is-hit-after-suspected-chemical-weapons-attack |date=9 April 2018 }}, Bloomberg, 9 April 2018</ref> According to the [[Syrian Observatory for Human Rights]] monitor, at least 14 people were killed and more were wounded.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/russia-syria-blame-israel-for-deadly-strike-on-syrian-air-base/|title=Russia, Syria blame Israel for deadly strike on Syrian air base|newspaper=Times of Israel|date=9 April 2018|access-date=9 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180409172230/https://www.timesofisrael.com/russia-syria-blame-israel-for-deadly-strike-on-syrian-air-base/|archive-date=9 April 2018|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

In June 2018, a ''[[New York Times]]'' investigation found that Syrian military helicopters dropped a chlorine bomb on the rooftop balcony of an apartment building in Douma.<ref name="NY Times interactive 1" /> At least 34 victims were counted and their bodies "showed horrific signs of chemical exposure."<ref name="NY Times interactive 1" /> Dozens of videos and photos were examined with academics, scientists and chemical weapons experts.<ref name="NY Times interactive 2" /> ''The New York Times'' was unable to visit Douma, but forensically analysed the visual evidence from Syrian activists and Russian reports.<ref name="NY Times interactive 1" /> They collaborated with [[Forensic Architecture]] to reconstruct a three-dimensional model of the building, balcony and bomb, and analysed how damage to the bomb's casing related to the debris.<ref name="NY Times interactive 1" /><ref name="NY Times interactive 2" /><ref name="Bellingcat March" /> According to their findings, key pieces of evidence indicated the bomb was not planted, but dropped from the air by a Syrian military helicopter, and the evidence supported the involvement of chlorine.<ref name="NY Times interactive 1" /><ref name="NY Times interactive 2" /><ref name="Bellingcat March" /> The dent on the front of the bomb indicated it crashed nose down into the floor of the balcony and pierced the ceiling.<ref name="NY Times interactive 1" /> The front of the casing showed corrosion similar to that which is caused when metal is exposed to chlorine and water.<ref name="NY Times interactive 1" /><ref name="NY Times interactive 2">[https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2018/06/25/world/middleeast/syria-chemical-attack-douma.html "One Building, One Bomb: How Assad Gassed His Own People"] ''The New York Times''. 25 June 2018.</ref> The grid pattern imprinted on the underside of the bomb matched the metal lattice in the rubble that was over the balcony.<ref name="NY Times interactive 1" /><ref name="Bellingcat March" /> Twisted metal found in the rubble corresponded to rigging seen attached to similar weapons.<ref name="NY Times interactive 1" /><ref name="Bellingcat March">[https://www.bellingcat.com/news/mena/2019/03/01/the-opcw-ffms-report-on-the-april-7th-2018-douma-chemical-attack-versus-the-open-source-evidence/ "The OPCW FFM's Report on the April 7th 2018 Douma Chemical Attack Versus The Open Source Evidence"] [[Bellingcat]]. 1 March 2019.</ref> Apparent frost covering the underside of the casing indicated the canister of chlorine was emptied quickly.<ref name="NY Times interactive 1" /> According to ''The New York Times'', since the Syrian military controlled the airspace over Douma, it would be "almost impossible" for the attack to have been staged by opposition fighters who do not have aircraft.<ref name="NY Times interactive 2" /> ''The New York Times'' noted that remote access "cannot tell us everything", and environmental and tissue samples were also needed in chemical weapons investigations.<ref name="NY Times interactive 1">[https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2018/06/24/world/middleeast/douma-syria-chemical-attack-augmented-reality-ar-ul.html "How We Created a Virtual Crime Scene to Investigate Syria's Chemical Attack"] ''The New York Times''. 24 June 2018.</ref>

The investigations published soon after the fact by Bellingcat, the New York Times, and [[Forensic Architecture]] were later confirmed by an in-depth report by James Harkin and Lauren Feeney in ''[[The Intercept]]''.<ref>{{cite book |last1=McMahon |first1=Félim |title=Investigative Journalism |date=2021 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-0-429-06028-1 |edition=3 |chapter=Digital sleuthing|pages=66–67}}</ref> After six months of examining the evidence, interviewing witnesses, and consulting with experts such as Higgins and [[Theodore Postol]] of the [[Massachusetts Institute of Technology]], James Harkin concludedand inFeeney ''[[The Intercept]]''concluded that Syrian Air Force helicopters dropped two chlorine canister bombs on Douma on 7 April 2018. Harkin noted that many chlorine attacks launched by Syrian forces in the past had resulted in no casualties, hypothesizing that—in contrast to the much more lethal sarin gas—Syrian forces likely employed chlorine at Douma to induce panic among the population rather than to kill many people. One of the canisters never released its payload and caused no deaths, but the other canister struck the weak roof of an apartment complex at an unexpected angle, releasing a very high concentration of chlorine that killed the people beneath it in a matter of minutes. According to Harkin, the frightened residents seen flocking to a nearby hospital and being doused with water in viral footage were not survivors of the chemical attack, but victims of conventional weapons and smoke inhalation.<ref>{{cite web|lastlast1=Harkin|firstfirst1=James|last2=Feeney|first2=Lauren|url=https://theintercept.com/2019/02/09/douma-chemical-attack-evidence-syria/|title=What Happened in Douma? Searching for Facts in the Fog of Syria's Propaganda War|work=[[The Intercept]]|date=2019-02-09|access-date=2019-02-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190209193818/https://theintercept.com/2019/02/09/douma-chemical-attack-evidence-syria/|archive-date=9 February 2019|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

A report released by the [[Global Public Policy Institute]] (GPPi), a Berlin-based think tank, determined that chlorine attacks accounted for 91.5% of all confirmed chemical weapons attacks attributable to the Syrian government throughout the war, including the 7 April 2018 attack on Douma.<ref name="GPPI">{{cite web | url=https://www.gppi.net/2019/02/17/the-logic-of-chemical-weapons-use-in-syria | title=Nowhere to Hide: The Logic of Chemical Weapons Use in Syria | publisher=Global Public Policy Institute | date=17 February 2019 | access-date=20 February 2019 |author1=Schneider, Tobias |author2=Lütkefend, Theresa | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190221063359/https://www.gppi.net/2019/02/17/the-logic-of-chemical-weapons-use-in-syria | archive-date=21 February 2019 | url-status=live | df=dmy-all }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/syrian-military-linked-to-more-than-300-chemical-attacks-report-says/2019/02/16/c6e128de-31d4-11e9-ac6c-14eea99d5e24_story.html | title=Syrian military linked to more than 300 chemical attacks, report says | newspaper=The Washington Post | date=17 February 2019 | access-date=20 February 2019 | author=Loveluck, Louisa | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190221224018/https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/syrian-military-linked-to-more-than-300-chemical-attacks-report-says/2019/02/16/c6e128de-31d4-11e9-ac6c-14eea99d5e24_story.html | archive-date=21 February 2019 | url-status=live | df=dmy-all }}</ref> The report held the Syrian government responsible for 98% of all recorded chemical weapons attacks over the course of the Syrian civil war and believes its use of chemical weapons "is best understood as part of its overall war strategy of collective punishment of populations in opposition-held areas".<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.heise.de/tp/features/Assad-Regime-soll-fuer-fast-alle-von-336-angeblichen-Chemiewaffenangriffen-verantwortlich-sein-4311280.html | title="Assad-Regime" soll für fast alle von 336 angeblichen Chemiewaffenangriffen verantwortlich sein | publisher=Heise.de | date=18 February 2019 | access-date=20 February 2019 | author=Rötzer, Florian | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190218163227/https://www.heise.de/tp/features/Assad-Regime-soll-fuer-fast-alle-von-336-angeblichen-Chemiewaffenangriffen-verantwortlich-sein-4311280.html | archive-date=18 February 2019 | url-status=live | df=dmy-all }}</ref><ref name="GPPI" />

Commenting on the OPCW FFM report of 2019, [[Bellingcat]] remarked that the detail provided, 'continues to make it clear that the Douma attack was yet another chlorine attack delivered by helicopter, using the same type of modified gas cylinders as seen in previous chlorine attacks.'<ref>Bellingcat 1 March 2019, [https://www.bellingcat.com/news/mena/2019/03/01/the-opcw-ffms-report-on-the-april-7th-2018-douma-chemical-attack-versus-the-open-source-evidence/ opcw ffms report on the april] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190302134505/https://www.bellingcat.com/news/mena/2019/03/01/the-opcw-ffms-report-on-the-april-7th-2018-douma-chemical-attack-versus-the-open-source-evidence/ |date=2 March 2019 }}</ref> On 23 January 2020, Bellingcat published a report in which it argued that it is effectively impossible for the Douma attack to have been a [[false flag]] incident.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bellingcat.com/news/mena/2020/01/23/the-opcw-douma-leaks-part-3-we-need-to-talk-about-a-false-flag-attack/|title=The OPCW Douma Leaks Part 3: We Need To Talk About A 'False Flag' Attack|workpublisher=Bellingcat|date=23 January 2020|access-date=25 January 2020|quote=The fakery, from the manufacturing of the cylinders to the chemical samples, would have had to be carried out to an incredibly high standard, indeed high enough that it could fool not only the FFM, but also multiple witnesses at the site of the attack.}}</ref>

=== OPCW investigation ===

On 10 April, the Syrian and Russian governments invited the [[Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons]] to send a team to investigate the attacks.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.opcw.org/news/article/opcw-will-deploy-fact-finding-mission-to-douma-syria/|title=OPCW Will Deploy Fact-Finding Mission to Douma, Syria|website=www.opcw.org|access-date=11 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180411192559/https://www.opcw.org/news/article/opcw-will-deploy-fact-finding-mission-to-douma-syria/|archive-date=11 April 2018|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-syria-ghouta-investiga/syria-invites-opcw-to-investigate-alleged-chemical-attack-in-douma-idUSKBN1HH218|title=Syria invites OPCW to investigate alleged chemical attack in Douma|work=Reuters|access-date=14 April 2018|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180414130054/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-syria-ghouta-investiga/syria-invites-opcw-to-investigate-alleged-chemical-attack-in-douma-idUSKBN1HH218|archive-date=14 April 2018|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}</ref> When the investigators arrived in Damascus on 14 April, their access to the site was blocked by Russia and Syria who cited security concerns.<ref name="Svoboda">{{cite webnews|url=https://www.svoboda.org/a/29173316.html|title=МИД Франции: эксперты ОЗХО до сих пор не допущены в Думу|website=Радио Свобода|date=17 April 2018 |access-date=17 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180418161335/https://www.svoboda.org/a/29173316.html|archive-date=18 April 2018|url-status=live|df=dmy-all|quote=Representatives of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons arrived in Syria on [Saturday] April 14. The Russian office in the OPCW said that experts would be allowed into the city [of Douma] only on Wednesday 18 April] because of "security problems." Meanwhile, Syrian state media on Tuesday [17 April] announced that OPCW experts had arrived in the Duma, RFI reported .}}</ref><ref name="aljazeera1">[https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/04/chemical-weapons-inspectors-reach-douma-probe-gas-attack-180421130414025.html Chemical weapons inspectors reach Douma to probe gas attack] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180423033142/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/04/chemical-weapons-inspectors-reach-douma-probe-gas-attack-180421130414025.html |date=23 April 2018|quote=The OPCW team arrived in Damascus on Saturday [14 April] but had not been able to travel to Douma, on the outskirts of the capital, due to security concerns following a reconnaissance mission by a United Nations team at two sites in the town on Tuesday [17 April]. The UN Department of Safety and Security (UNDSS) officials had to withdraw from the first location as the presence of large crowd there raised security fears. At the second site, they came under small arms fire and an explosive device was detonated nearby, the OPCW said in a statement. }}. [[Al Jazeera Media Network|Al Jazeera]]. Published 21 April 2018. Retrieved 22 April 2018.</ref><ref name="Wintour Douma">{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/apr/16/syria-chemical-attack-inspectors-unable-to-access-douma-site|title=Syria: chemical weapons inspectors barred from Douma site|first1=Patrick|last1=Wintour|first2=Julian|last2=Borger|date=16 April 2018|website=the Guardian|access-date=16 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180416141500/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/apr/16/syria-chemical-attack-inspectors-unable-to-access-douma-site|archive-date=16 April 2018|url-status=live|df=dmy-all|quote=Earlier, Russia’s deputy foreign minister, Sergei Ryabkov, said the inspectors could not access the site because they did not have the appropriate United Nations permission. In response the UN said it had provided the necessary clearances for a fact-finding mission. Russian military officials were at the site of the Douma attack days before the OPCW reached Damascus. “It"It is our concern that they may have tampered with it,”" Kenneth Ward, the US ambassador to the OPCW, told the council meeting.}}</ref><ref>Anthony Deutsch, Tom Perry (18 April 2018). [https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-syria/u-n-team-fired-upon-in-syria-while-visiting-suspected-chemical-sites-idUSKBN1HP0SG U.N. team fired upon in Syria while visiting suspected chemical sites] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180418233023/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-syria/u-n-team-fired-upon-in-syria-while-visiting-suspected-chemical-sites-idUSKBN1HP0SG |date=18 April 2018 }}. [[Reuters]]. Retrieved 22 April 2018.</ref><ref name=blocked>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/16/world/middleeast/syria-douma-chemical-attack.html|title=Chemical Weapons Experts Blocked From Site of Syria Attack, Officials Say|work=The New York Times|date=16 April 2018|access-date=16 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180416170652/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/16/world/middleeast/syria-douma-chemical-attack.html|archive-date=16 April 2018|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

On 17 April, the OPCW was promised access to the site, but had not entered Douma<ref>{{cite news|title=OPCW chemical weapons investigators enter Douma after being 'blocked'|url=https://news.sky.com/story/opcw-chemical-weapons-investigators-enter-douma-11334938|date=17 April 2018|access-date=17 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180417162037/https://news.sky.com/story/opcw-chemical-weapons-investigators-enter-douma-11334938|archive-date=17 April 2018|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}</ref> and was unable to carry out the inspection because a large crowd gathered at one site, while their reconnaissance teams came under fire at the other site. According to the OPCW director, "On arrival at site one, a large crowd gathered and the advice provided by the [[United Nations Department for Safety and Security|UNDSS]] was that the reconnaissance team should withdraw," and "at site two, the team came under small arms fire and an explosive was detonated. The reconnaissance team returned to Damascus."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-syria/u-n-team-fired-upon-in-syria-while-visiting-suspected-chemical-sites-idUSKBN1HP0SG|title=U.N. team fired upon in Syria while visiting suspected chemical sites|first=Anthony|last=Deutsch|work=[[Reuters]]|access-date=19 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180418233023/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-syria/u-n-team-fired-upon-in-syria-while-visiting-suspected-chemical-sites-idUSKBN1HP0SG|archive-date=18 April 2018|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref name="Svoboda" /> The OPCW statement did not lay blame on any party for the incident.<ref name="ajnews">{{cite news|title=OPCW: Fact-finding team still outside Syria's Douma|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/04/opcw-fact-finding-team-syria-douma-180418155208033.html|access-date=20 April 2018|publisher=Al Jazeera News|date=19 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180419214216/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/04/opcw-fact-finding-team-syria-douma-180418155208033.html|archive-date=19 April 2018|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}</ref> The United States believed the Syrian government was stalling the OPCW to give itself time to remove evidence.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/chemical-weapons-coverup-suspected-in-syria-as-inspectors-remain-blocked/2018/04/20/1ca0f164-440a-11e8-b2dc-b0a403e4720a_story.html?noredirect=on|title=Chemical weapons coverup suspected in Syria as inspectors remain blocked|newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=20 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180422132647/https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/chemical-weapons-coverup-suspected-in-syria-as-inspectors-remain-blocked/2018/04/20/1ca0f164-440a-11e8-b2dc-b0a403e4720a_story.html?noredirect=on|archive-date=22 April 2018|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

On 19 April, the OPCW still was unable to access the sites. According to a [[United States Department of State|US State Department]] spokeswoman, there was "credible information" that "Russian officials are working with the Syrian regime to deny and to delay these inspectors from gaining access to Douma," and "to sanitize the locations of the suspected attacks and remove incriminating evidence of chemical weapons use."<ref name="USA" /><ref name="Wintour Douma" />

OPCW inspectors visited the site and collected samples on 21 April and 25 April 2018.<ref name="aljazeera1" /><ref name=opcw-20180425>{{cite press release |url=https://www.opcw.org/news/article/opcw-fact-finding-mission-visits-second-site-in-douma-syria/ |title=OPCW Fact-Finding Mission Visits Second Site in Douma, Syria |publisher=OPCW |date=25 April 2018 |access-date=7 May 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180427101442/https://www.opcw.org/news/article/opcw-fact-finding-mission-visits-second-site-in-douma-syria/ |archive-date=27 April 2018 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }}</ref> The organization said that it would submit to its member states a report "based on analysis of the sample results, as well other information and materials collected by the team."<ref>{{cite news|last=Dalton|first=Jane|title=Chemical weapons inspectors collect evidence in Douma|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/syria-douma-chemical-weapons-attack-latest-eastern-ghouta-russia-assad-a8315746.html|access-date=24 April 2018|work=The Independent|date=21 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180425033344/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/syria-douma-chemical-weapons-attack-latest-eastern-ghouta-russia-assad-a8315746.html|archive-date=25 April 2018|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

On 6 July 2018, the FFM published its interim report.<ref name=opcw-20180706>{{cite web|url=https://www.opcw.org/news/article/opcw-issues-fact-finding-mission-reports-on-chemical-weapons-use-allegations-in-douma-syria-in-2018-and-in-al-hamadaniya-and-karm-al-tarrab-in-2016/|title=OPCW Issues Fact-Finding Mission Reports on Chemical Weapons Use Allegations in Douma, Syria in 2018 and in Al-Hamadaniya and Karm Al-Tarrab in 2016|publisher=[[Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons]]|date=6 July 2018|access-date=14 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180711064542/https://www.opcw.org/news/article/opcw-issues-fact-finding-mission-reports-on-chemical-weapons-use-allegations-in-douma-syria-in-2018-and-in-al-hamadaniya-and-karm-al-tarrab-in-2016/|archive-date=11 July 2018|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}</ref> The report stated that:

<blockquote>The results show that no organophosphorous nerve agents or their degradation products were detected in the environmental samples or in the plasma samples taken from alleged casualties. Along with explosive residues, various chlorinated organic chemicals were found in samples from two sites, for which there is full chain of custody.<ref name=opcw-20180706 /></blockquote>

{{Blockquote|text=Regarding the alleged use of toxic chemicals as a weapon on 7 April 2018 in Douma, the Syrian Arab Republic, the evaluation and analysis of all the information gathered by the FFM—witnesses' testimonies, environmental and biomedical samples analysis results, toxicological and ballistic analyses from experts, additional digital information from witnesses—provide reasonable grounds that the use of a toxic chemical as a weapon took place. This toxic chemical contained reactive chlorine. The toxic chemical was likely molecular chlorine.<ref name=OPCW-FFM-Mar2019 />{{rp|9.12}}}}

An engineering report written by Ian Henderson, a liaison officer at the OPCW Command Post Office in Damascus, was leaked in 2019.<ref name="OPCW Remarks 28.05.19">[[OPCW]], [https://www.opcw.org/sites/default/files/documents/2019/06/Remarks%20of%20the%20Director-General%20Briefing%20for%20States%20Parties%20on%20Syrian%20Arab%20Republic%20Update%20on%20IIT-FFM-SSRC-DAT.pdf Remarks of the Director-General at the Briefing for States Parties on Syrian Arab Republic:Update on IIT-FFM-SSRC-DAT] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190620172919/https://www.opcw.org/sites/default/files/documents/2019/06/Remarks%20of%20the%20Director-General%20Briefing%20for%20States%20Parties%20on%20Syrian%20Arab%20Republic%20Update%20on%20IIT-FFM-SSRC-DAT.pdf |date=20 June 2019 }}, 28 May 2019</ref> According to his report, there was a "higher probability that both cylinders were manually placed at those two locations rather than being delivered from aircraft".<ref>{{cite web|last=Fisk|first=Robert|author-link=Robert Fisk|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/douma-syria-opcw-chemical-weapons-chlorine-gas-video-conspiracy-theory-russia-a8927116.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190603054327/https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/douma-syria-opcw-chemical-weapons-chlorine-gas-video-conspiracy-theory-russia-a8927116.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=3 June 2019|title=The evidence we were never meant to see about the Douma 'gas' attack (Independent Voices)|work=The Independent|date=23 May 2019|access-date=31 May 2019}}</ref>

Russia threatened to block the budget for the OPCW at the annual meeting in [[The Hague]] in 2019 if it included funding for a new team which would give the organisation powers to pin blame on culprits for the use of toxic arms. Previously the watchdog only had a mandate to say whether or not an attack had occurred. Russia, Iran and China led efforts to block the budget in 2018 but it passed by a majority of 99–27. "Moscow has consistently raised doubts over chemical attacks in Syria or insisted they were staged, and has recently highlighted a leaked report raising questions about a deadly chlorine attack in the Syrian town of Douma in April 2018. Tensions have also been high since four Russian spies were expelled from the Netherlands in 2018 for allegedly trying to hack into the OPCW's computers."<ref>{{cite news|newspaperpublisher=France 24|author=AFP|url=https://www.france24.com/en/20191125-showdown-looms-over-syria-chemical-weapons-probe|date=25 November 2019|title=Showdown Looms over Syria Chemical Weapons Probe|access-date=3 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191129031104/https://www.france24.com/en/20191125-showdown-looms-over-syria-chemical-weapons-probe|archive-date=29 November 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> On 28 November 2019 the bid by Russia to block funding for a new team that will identify culprits behind toxic attacks in Syria failed with member states at the global chemical watchdog overwhelmingly approving a new budget.<ref>france24.com [https://www.france24.com/en/20191128-russia-loses-bid-to-block-new-syria-chemical-weapons-probe russia loses bid to block new syria chemical weapons probe]</ref>

On 17 January 2020, Bellingcat published a report in which it said it had found problems with Henderson's engineering assessment.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bellingcat.com/news/mena/2020/01/17/the-opcw-douma-leaks-part-2-we-need-to-talk-about-henderson/|title=The OPCW Douma Leaks Part 2: We Need To Talk About Henderson|workpublisher=Bellingcat|date=17 January 2020|access-date=25 January 2020}}</ref>

In February 2020, Fernando Arias, the Director-General of the OPCW, shared the findings of an independent investigation into possible breaches of confidentiality which was initiated after the leak.<ref name="OPCW Feb 2020">[https://www.opcw.org/media-centre/news/2020/02/opcw-independent-investigation-possible-breaches-confidentiality-report "OPCW: Independent Investigation into Possible Breaches of Confidentiality Report Released"] OPCW. 6 February 2020.</ref> The investigation took place between July 2019 and February 2020.<ref name="OPCW Feb 2020" /> The investigators determined that two former OPCW officials, referred to as Inspector A and Inspector B, violated their obligations concerning the protection of confidential information related to the Douma investigation.<ref name="OPCW Feb 2020" /> According to the investigators, Inspector A was not a member of the FFM, played a minor supporting role in the Douma investigation, and did not have access to all information gathered by the FFM team – including witness interviews, laboratory results, and analyses by independent experts.<ref name="OPCW Feb 2020" /> After the July 2018 interim report, it had taken a further seven months for the FFM to further investigate the incident and conduct the bulk of its work, and Inspector A no longer had any supporting role regarding the FFM during this period.<ref name="OPCW Feb 2020" /> According to the investigators, the assessment of Inspector A was an unofficial personal document created with incomplete information and without authorisation.<ref name="OPCW Feb 2020" /> Inspector B was a member of the FFM for the first time and travelled to Syria in April 2018.<ref name="OPCW Feb 2020" /> He never left the command post in Damascus because he had not completed the training necessary to deploy on-site.<ref name="OPCW Feb 2020" /> The majority of the FFM's work occurred after Inspector B separated with the OPCW at the end of August 2018.<ref name="OPCW Feb 2020" /> During a briefing in February 2020 to State Parties to the [[Chemical Weapons Convention]], Fernando Arias said:

<blockquote>Inspectors A and B are not whistle-blowers. They are individuals who could not accept that their views were not backed by evidence. When their views could not gain traction, they took matters into their own hands and breached their obligations to the Organisation. Their behaviour is even more egregious as they had manifestly incomplete information about the Douma investigation. Therefore, as could be expected, their conclusions are erroneous, uninformed, and wrong.<ref name="OPCW Feb 2020" /></blockquote>

=== OPCW-IIT Findings ===

* {{Cite journalreport |date=27 January 2023 |title=Third Report by the OPCW Investiogation and Identification Team |url=https://www.opcw.org/sites/default/files/documents/2023/01/s-2125-2023%28e%29.pdf |journal= |pages=2–139 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230127111959/https://www.opcw.org/sites/default/files/documents/2023/01/s-2125-2023(e).pdf |archive-date=27 January 2023 |via=OPCW}}

* {{Cite web |date=27 Jan 2023 |title=Joint Statement on OPCW Report Finding Syrian Regime Responsible for Chemical Weapons Attack in Douma, Syria on April 7, 2018 |url=https://www.state.gov/joint-statement-on-opcw-report-finding-syrian-regime-responsible-for-chemical-weapons-attack-in-douma-syria-on-april-7-2018/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230128024629/https://www.state.gov/joint-statement-on-opcw-report-finding-syrian-regime-responsible-for-chemical-weapons-attack-in-douma-syria-on-april-7-2018/ |archive-date=28 January 2023 |websitepublisher=U.S Department of State}}

* {{Cite news |date=27 Jan 2023 |title=OPCW blames Syria gov’tgov't for 2018 chlorine gas attack in Douma |workpublisher=Al Jazeera |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/1/27/opcw-blames-syria-government-forces-for-2018-douma-chlorine-gas-attack}}

* {{Cite news |date=27 Jan 2023 |title=Watchdog blames Syria for 2018 Douma chemical attack |workagency=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-64424831 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230128025152/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-64424831 |archive-date=28 Jan 2023}}

* {{Cite news |last=Loveluck |first=Louisa |date=27 Jan 2023 |title=Syrian army responsible for Douma chemical weapons attack, watchdog confirms |worknewspaper=Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/01/27/syria-chemical-weapons-douma-opcw/}}}} The OPCW-IIT findings concluded: <blockquote>"between 19:10 and 19:40 (UTC +3) on 7 April 2018, during a major military offensive aimed at regaining control of the city of Douma, at least one Syrian Air Force [[Mil Mi-17|Mi-8/17 helicopter]], departing from [[Al-Dumayr Military Airport|Dumayr airbase]] and operating under the control of the [[Tiger Forces]], dropped two yellow cylinders which hit two residential buildings in a central area of the city. At Location 2, the cylinder hit the rooftop floor of a three-storey residential building without fully penetrating it, ruptured, and rapidly released [[toxic gas]]—[[Chlorine gas poisoning|chlorine]]—in very high concentrations, which rapidly dispersed within the building killing 43 named individuals and affecting dozens more."<ref>{{Cite web |date=27 January 2023 |title=OPCW Releases Third Report by Investigation and Identification Team |url=https://www.opcw.org/media-centre/news/2023/01/opcw-releases-third-report-investigation-and-identification-team |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230127111421/https://www.opcw.org/media-centre/news/2023/01/opcw-releases-third-report-investigation-and-identification-team |archive-date=27 January 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journalreport |date=27 January 2023 |title=Third Report by the OPCW Investiogation and Identification Team |url=https://www.opcw.org/sites/default/files/documents/2023/01/s-2125-2023%28e%29.pdf |journal= |pages=2–139 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230127111959/https://www.opcw.org/sites/default/files/documents/2023/01/s-2125-2023(e).pdf |archive-date=27 January 2023 |via=OPCW}}</ref></blockquote>

In a joint [[press release]] published by the [[United States Department of State|US Department of State]] on the same day, the [[Foreign minister|Foreign Ministers]] of [[United States]], [[United Kingdom|UK]], [[France]] and [[Germany]] thanked the [[OPCW]] for its "independent, unbiased, and expert" research and denounced the Syrian government for its continuing violations of [[Chemical Weapons Convention]]s, stating: <blockquote>"Our governments condemn in the strongest terms the Syrian regime’s repeated use of these horrific weapons..Syria must fully declare and destroy its chemical weapons program and allow the deployment of OPCW staff to its country to verify it has done so... IIT also obtained information that, at the time of the attack, the airspace over Douma was exclusively controlled by the Syrian Arab Air Force and the [[Russian Aerospace Defence Forces]]. We call on the [[Russian Federation]] to stop shielding Syria from accountability for its use of chemical weapons. No amount of disinformation from the [[Kremlin]] can hide its hand in abetting the Assad regime."<ref>{{Cite web |date=27 Jan 2023 |title=Joint Statement on OPCW Report Finding Syrian Regime Responsible for Chemical Weapons Attack in Douma, Syria on April 7, 2018 |url=https://www.state.gov/joint-statement-on-opcw-report-finding-syrian-regime-responsible-for-chemical-weapons-attack-in-douma-syria-on-april-7-2018/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230128024629/https://www.state.gov/joint-statement-on-opcw-report-finding-syrian-regime-responsible-for-chemical-weapons-attack-in-douma-syria-on-april-7-2018/ |archive-date=28 January 2023 |websitepublisher=U.S Department of State}}</ref></blockquote>

== Reactions ==

=== Government ===

{{flag|France}} – On 12 April, French President [[Emmanuel Macron]] said he has proof that the Syrian government attacked the town of Douma with chemical weapons and at least used chlorine.<ref name=BBCApr12>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-43740626|title=Syria 'chemical attack': France's President Macron says he has proof|date=12 April 2018|workagency=BBC News|access-date=12 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180412205303/http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-43740626|archive-date=12 April 2018|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref name=DW=180412>{{cite web | url=http://www.dw.com/en/macron-assad-regime-used-chemical-weapons-on-syrias-douma/a-43359542 | title=Macron: Assad regime used chemical weapons on Syria's Douma | work=[[Deutsche Welle]] | date=12 April 2018 | access-date=13 April 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180412142209/http://www.dw.com/en/macron-assad-regime-used-chemical-weapons-on-syrias-douma/a-43359542 | archive-date=12 April 2018 | url-status=live | df=dmy-all }}</ref><ref name="Macron">{{cite webnews|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-43740626|title=Macron 'has Syria chemical attack proof'|work=BBC News |date=12 April 2018|via=www.bbc.com|access-date=21 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180412205303/http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-43740626|archive-date=12 April 2018|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

{{flag|Iran}} – The [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Iran)|Foreign Ministry of Iran]] spokesman said: "While the Syrian army has the upper hand in the war against armed terrorists, it is not logical for them to use chemical weapons. Such claims and accusations [about chemical weapons use] by the Americans and some Western countries signal a new plot against the government and nation of Syria and is an excuse for military action against them."<ref>"[https://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2018/04/iran-syria-reaction-douma-chemical-attack-khamenei.html Iran condemns chemical weapons attacks, denies Syria's role] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180413044551/https://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2018/04/iran-syria-reaction-douma-chemical-attack-khamenei.html |date=13 April 2018 }}". Al-Monitor. 9 April 2018.</ref>

{{flag|Russia}} – On 13 March 2018 the [[Chief of the General Staff (Russia)|Chief of the General Staff]] of the [[Russian Armed Forces]], [[Valery Gerasimov]], said the Russian military had "reliable intelligence" that suggested the rebels holding Eastern Ghouta, along with the [[White Helmets (Syrian Civil War)|White Helmets]] activists, were preparing to stage and film a chemical weapons attack against civilians, which the U.S. government would blame on the Syrian forces and use as a pretext to bomb the government quarter in Damascus.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-syria-russia-usa/russia-says-u-s-plans-to-strike-damascus-pledges-military-response-idUSKCN1GP0TY|title=Russia says U.S. plans to strike Damascus, pledges military response|date=13 March 2018|work=Reuters|access-date=12 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180414080128/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-syria-russia-usa/russia-says-u-s-plans-to-strike-damascus-pledges-military-response-idUSKCN1GP0TY|archive-date=14 April 2018|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2018/03/13/russia-military-threatens-action-against-the-us-in-syria.html|title=Russian military threatens action against the US in Syria|date=13 March 2018|publisher=CNBC|access-date=16 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180416201906/https://www.cnbc.com/2018/03/13/russia-military-threatens-action-against-the-us-in-syria.html|archive-date=16 April 2018|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.interfax.ru/world/603320|title=Российские военные предупредили о подготовке боевиками провокации с химоружием в Восточной Гуте|date=13 March 2018|publisher=Interfax|access-date=16 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180417022922/http://www.interfax.ru/world/603320|archive-date=17 April 2018|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}</ref> In the event that the lives of Russian servicemen should be threatened by U.S. strikes, Gerasimov said Russia would respond militarily — militarily—"against both the missiles and the platforms from which they're launched".<ref>[https://ria.ru/syria/20180313/1516248303.html Боевики как повод для атаки: Россия готова ответить на удар США по Дамаску] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180413124631/https://ria.ru/syria/20180313/1516248303.html |date=13 April 2018 }} RIA Novosti, 13 March 2018.</ref><ref>"[https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/apr/10/russian-officials-warn-of-possible-military-clash-with-us-over-syria Russian officials warn of possible military clash with US over Syria] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180413135335/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/apr/10/russian-officials-warn-of-possible-military-clash-with-us-over-syria |date=13 April 2018 }}". ''The Guardian.'' 10 April 2018.</ref> The [[Russian foreign ministry|Russian Foreign Ministry]] on 8 April denied chemical weapons had been used.<ref name="BBC News 2018 no evidence">{{cite webnews | title=Syria conflict: Russia says no evidence of Douma chemical attack | websitework=BBC News |agency=BBC News |date=2018-04-09 | url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-43697670 | access-date=2021-07-10}}</ref> A few days later, the Russian military said members of the [[White Helmets (Syrian Civil War)|White Helmets organization]] filmed a staged attack.<ref>[https://www.newsru.com/russia/11apr2018/rupoliceinsyria.html Генштаб РФ объявил об отправке в Думу российской военной полиции] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180412001439/https://www.newsru.com/russia/11apr2018/rupoliceinsyria.html |date=12 April 2018 }} NEWSru, 11 April 2018.</ref><ref name="tassdoumastaged">[http://tass.com/defense/999108 White Helmets staged Douma 'chemical weapons attack' on civilians — Russian General Staff] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180412001123/http://tass.com/defense/999108 |date=12 April 2018 }} TASS, 11 April 2018.</ref> Then, on 13 April, the Russian [[Ministry of Defence (Russia)|Ministry of Defence]] said that it was Britain that staged the attack in order to provoke U.S. airstrikes.<ref name="usatoday413">{{cite news|title=Russia blames UK for Syria chemical attack that killed dozens, many of them children|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2018/04/13/russia-syria-chemical-attack-fabrication-foreign-intelligence-agency/514039002/|access-date=13 April 2018|work=usatoday.comUSA Today|agency=Associated Press|date=13 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180413183418/https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2018/04/13/russia-syria-chemical-attack-fabrication-foreign-intelligence-agency/514039002/|archive-date=13 April 2018|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}</ref> On 26 April, Russian officials held a press conference in [[The Hague]] where they presented several apparent witnesses from the Douma incident, flown in from Syria, who said that reported victims had not suffered symptoms of a chemical attack.<ref name="BBC News 2018 press conferene">{{cite webnews | title=Russia says its witnesses discredit alleged chemical attack in Syria | websitework=BBC News |agency=BBC News |date=2018-04-26 | url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-43912739 | access-date=2021-07-10}}</ref><ref name="Sky News 2018 staged">{{cite web | title=Russia 'proves' Syria attack was staged | websiteagency=Sky News | date=2018-04-26 | url=https://news.sky.com/story/live-russia-proves-syria-attack-was-staged-11347363 | access-date=2021-07-10}}</ref> The Russian envoy to the OPCW said that videos of the attack were little more than "a sloppily staged video showing the pretence for a strike is completely groundless".<ref>{{cite web | first=Patrick|last=Wintour|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/apr/26/obscene-masquerade-russia-criticised-over-douma-chemical-attack-denial|title='Obscene masquerade': Russia criticised over Douma chemical attack denial | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180527165931/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/apr/26/obscene-masquerade-russia-criticised-over-douma-chemical-attack-denial |archive-date=27 May 2018|newspaper=The Guardian|date=26 April 2018}}</ref> On 20 January 2020, Russia convened a [[United Nations Security Council|UN Security Council]] (UNSC) [[Arria formula meeting|Arria]] meeting (not treated as formal council business)<ref name="Whitaker20200121">{{cite news|last=Whitaker|first=Brian|url=https://al-bab.com/blog/2020/01/russia-steps-its-campaign-discredit-opcw-investigations|title=Russia steps up its campaign to discredit OPCW investigations|work=albab|date=21 January 2020|access-date=29 January 2020}}</ref> where it presented the view that there was no evidence that chemical weapons were used in Douma. Ian Henderson appeared via video. The ambassador from Germany compared the presentation to ''[[Alice's Adventures in Wonderland|Alice in Wonderland]]''.<ref>{{cite news|last=Pavia|first=Will|url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/russia-accused-of-misinformation-over-claim-syrian-chemical-attack-was-faked-870rfbb27|title=Russia accused of misinformation over claim Syrian chemical attack was faked|work=The Times|date=21 January 2020|access-date=29 January 2020}} {{subscription required}}</ref>

{{flag|Syria}} – The Syrian state-owned [[Syrian Arab News Agency]] reported a Foreign and Expatriates Ministry source saying that Syria's alleged use of "chemical weapons have become an unconvincing stereotype, except for some countries which traffic with the blood of civilians and support terrorism in Syria."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://sana.sy/en/?p=133561|title=Foreign Ministry: Allegations of using chemical weapons unconvincing stereotype – Syrian Arab News Agency|website=sana.sy|date=8 April 2018 |access-date=9 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180409044109/https://sana.sy/en/?p=133561|archive-date=9 April 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>

{{flag|Turkey}} – A spokesman for President [[Recep Tayyip Erdoğan]] said the "Syrian regime must give account for the attacks in various regions of the country at different times," and called upon the international community to address war crimes and crimes against humanity.<ref>{{cite news|title=Turkey condemns use of chemical weapons in Syria's Douma|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-syria-douma-turkey/turkey-condemns-use-of-chemical-weapons-in-syrias-douma-idUSKBN1HF0GJ|access-date=8 April 2018|work=Reuters|date=8 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180408142534/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-syria-douma-turkey/turkey-condemns-use-of-chemical-weapons-in-syrias-douma-idUSKBN1HF0GJ|archive-date=8 April 2018|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/those-behind-douma-chemical-attack-will-pay-erdogan-says-130099 | title=Those behind Douma chemical attack will pay, Erdoğan says | date=10 April 2018 | newspaper=Hurriyet Daily News | access-date=12 April 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180411025933/http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/those-behind-douma-chemical-attack-will-pay-erdogan-says-130099 | archive-date=11 April 2018 | url-status=live | df=dmy-all }}</ref>

{{flag|United States}} – President [[Donald Trump]] condemned the attack on Twitter, heavily criticizing Russia over it.<ref>{{cite tweet |user=realDonaldTrump |number= 982966315467116544|date= 8 April 2018|title=Many dead, including women and children, in mindless CHEMICAL attack in Syria. Area of atrocity is in lockdown and encircled by Syrian Army, making it completely inaccessible to outside world. President Putin, Russia and Iran are responsible for backing Animal Assad. Big price...}}</ref><ref>{{cite tweet |user=realDonaldTrump |number= 982967389028569088|date= 8 April 2018|title=....to pay. Open area immediately for medical help and verification. Another humanitarian disaster for no reason whatsoever. SICK!}}</ref><ref name="Sky News 2018 tweet">{{cite web | title=Bashar al Assad goes old school in response to Trump's 'animal' insult | websiteagency=Sky News | date=2018-05-31 | url=https://news.sky.com/story/bashar-al-assad-goes-old-school-in-response-to-trumps-animal-insult-11390477 | access-date=2021-07-10}}</ref> Trump canceled his trip to the [[8th Summit of the Americas]], sending Vice President [[Mike Pence]] in his place.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Bierman|first1=Noah|title=Trump, facing twin crises, will skip South America summit|url=http://www.latimes.com/politics/la-na-pol-essential-washington-updates-trump-to-skip-south-america-summit-to-1523366482-htmlstory.html|agency=Los Angeles Times|date=10 April 2018|access-date=10 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180411035411/http://www.latimes.com/politics/la-na-pol-essential-washington-updates-trump-to-skip-south-america-summit-to-1523366482-htmlstory.html|archive-date=11 April 2018|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}</ref> On 10 April, Trump, UK Prime Minister [[Theresa May]], and French President Emmanuel Macron said in a statement following joint telephone calls that they had "agreed that the international community needed to respond to uphold the worldwide prohibition on the use of chemical weapons".<ref name="Guard11Apr18">{{cite news |date=11 April 2018 |title=MPs caution May against Syria action without Commons vote |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2018/apr/11/mps-caution-may-against-syria-action-without-commons-vote |url-status=live |access-date=11 April 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180411085947/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2018/apr/11/mps-caution-may-against-syria-action-without-commons-vote |archive-date=11 April 2018 |df=dmy-all}}</ref> On 11 April, via [[Twitter]], President Trump told Russia to "get ready" for "nice and new and 'smart' missiles." [[Vasily Nebenzia]], Russia's ambassador to the United Nations, said the United States would "bear responsibility" for any "illegal military adventure" they conducted.<ref name="BBCApr11">{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-43727829|title=Trump warns Russia on Syria missile threat|date=11 April 2018|workagency=BBC News|access-date=11 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180411112349/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-43727829|archive-date=11 April 2018|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}</ref> The following day, Trump appeared to soften his resolve, tweeting he "[n]ever said when an attack on Syria would take place. Could be very soon or not so soon at all!"<ref name="Gearan">{{cite news | url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-now-says-syria-attack-could-be-very-soon-or-not-so-soon-at-all/2018/04/12/aeb46a66-3e3a-11e8-974f-aacd97698cef_story.html | title=Trump signals a more deliberate approach on Syria, reviews options for possible attack | newspaper=The Washington Post | date=12 April 2018 | access-date=13 April 2018 | last1=Gearan | first1=Anne | last2=Wagner | first2=John | last3=Ryan | first3=Missy | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180413064521/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-now-says-syria-attack-could-be-very-soon-or-not-so-soon-at-all/2018/04/12/aeb46a66-3e3a-11e8-974f-aacd97698cef_story.html | archive-date=13 April 2018 | url-status=live | df=dmy-all }}</ref> [[U.S. Defense Secretary]] [[James Mattis]] stated the U.S. was still waiting on the OPCW investigation, but that there were "a lot of media and social media indicators that either chlorine or sarin was used" in Douma.<ref>[https://www.cbsnews.com/news/defense-secretary-james-mattis-says-attack-on-syria-is-not-yet-in-the-offing/ Defense Secretary James Mattis says attack on Syria "is not yet in the offing"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180414011043/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/defense-secretary-james-mattis-says-attack-on-syria-is-not-yet-in-the-offing/ |date=14 April 2018 }} CBS News, 12 April 2018</ref><ref>[https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-syria-usa/mattis-says-i-believe-there-was-a-chemical-attack-in-syria-idUSKBN1HJ2ES Mattis says: 'I believe there was a chemical attack in Syria'] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180413083745/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-syria-usa/mattis-says-i-believe-there-was-a-chemical-attack-in-syria-idUSKBN1HJ2ES |date=13 April 2018 }} Reuters, 12 April 2018</ref> The BBC quoted U.S. officials as saying urine and blood samples taken from victims had tested positively for traces of chlorine.<ref name="Macron" /> On 14 April, France, the United Kingdom and the United States [[2018 missile strikes against Syria|launched airstrikes against four Syrian government targets]] in response to the attack.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.cnn.com/2018/04/13/politics/trump-us-syria/index.html|title=Trump: US launches strikes on Syria|author1=Kevin Liptak |author2=Jeff Zeleny |author3=Zachary Cohen|publisher=CNN|access-date=14 April 2018|url-status = live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180414010722/https://www.cnn.com/2018/04/13/politics/trump-us-syria/index.html|archive-date=14 April 2018|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

=== Intergovernment ===

{{flag|United Nations}} – On 10 April 2018, the [[United Nations Security Council]] failed to adopt three competing resolutions on an inquiry into the chemical attack, with Russia and the United States clashing over the issue and exchanging military threats.<ref>[https://news.un.org/en/story/2018/04/1006991 Security Council fails to adopt three resolutions on chemical weapons use in Syria] UN, 10 April 2018.</ref><ref>[https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-syria/u-s-russia-clash-at-u-n-over-chemical-weapons-attacks-in-syria-idUSKBN1HG0D8 U.S., Russia clash at U.N. over chemical weapons attacks in Syria] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180411180656/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-syria/u-s-russia-clash-at-u-n-over-chemical-weapons-attacks-in-syria-idUSKBN1HG0D8 |date=11 April 2018 }} Reuters, 9 April 2018.</ref>

{{flag|World Health Organization}} – The WHO released a statement, with a reference to outside medical sources,<ref>{{cite web| |url=https://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/statements/2018/chemical-attacks-syria/en/| |publisher=World Health Organization| |title=WHO concerned about suspected chemical attacks in Syria| |date=11 April 2018| |access-date=15 April 2018| |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180415171403/http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/statements/2018/chemical-attacks-syria/en/| |archive-date=15 April 2018| |url-status=dead| |df=dmy-all}}</ref> that 43 people died while suffering "symptoms consistent with exposure to highly toxic chemicals."<ref name="USA" />

== See also ==

{{Portal|Asia|War}}

*[[List of massacres during the Syrian Civilcivil Warwar]]

*[[List of Syrian Civilcivil Warwar barrel bomb attacks]]

== References ==

== Notes ==

* [https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2018/06/24/world/middleeast/douma-syria-chemical-attack-augmented-reality-ar-ul.html ''New York Times'' interactive 24 June 2018]