US State Dept. Spox Fails to Name Chemicals Allegedly Used in Douma

Local Editor

Although the United States is aware that some kind of chemical was used in the alleged attack in the Syrian city of Douma, it is not sure at present what kind of substance it was, the US State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert said during a press briefing on Tuesday.

"We do know that some sort of a substance was used," Nauert told reporters. "A chemical was used, we're just not sure at this point today exactly what was used."

Nauert explained the United States will rely on information collected by the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) regarding the alleged chemical attack, but said the US government also has its own mechanisms to investigate the incident.

On Saturday, several media outlets, citing Syrian militants, accused the Syrian government of carrying out a chemical weapons attack in Douma, located some ten kilometers northeast of the capital Damascus.

US President Donald Trump blamed Syrian President Bashar Assad for the incident, but said Russia and Iran were also responsible because they support the Syrian government. On Monday, Trump said his administration would make a major decision within the next 24 to 48 hours on what the US response will be.

The Russian reconciliation center for Syria on Sunday categorically refuted the media reports that the Syrian military dropped a chlorine-filled bomb on Douma. The Russian Foreign Ministry said such erroneous information aims to cover the actions of terrorists and justify possible external military intervention in Syria.

Source: Sputnik, Edited by website team