If true, the government's use of such weapons would be a violation of its agreement with the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, and the Chemical Weapons Convention, both of which it signed last September.
The OPCW deal came as part of a U.S.- and Russian-brokered package in which the government of
Hereditary President-for-Life Bashir Pencilneckal-Assad
Despoiler of Deraa...
agreed to give up its entire chemical weapons arsenal. The move followed Western threats of military action against the regime after the Aug. 21 Ghouta chemical attack that killed hundreds -- blamed on the regime by the opposition and its allies, and on the rebels by the regime.
Over the past few months, members of the Syrian opposition, including the main umbrella group the Syrian National Coalition, have accused the regime of using chemical weapons, mainly in the suburbs of Damascus, in areas such as Jobar and Harasta.
"There have been at least four such attacks in recent months, involving high doses of chlorine and pesticides," said Sinan Hatehet, director of the Coalition's media office.
He added that although the attacks only killed around 15 people, the chemicals were primarily being used as a psychological weapon.