Israel, Like US, Doubts Syrian Rebels’ ‘Poison Gas’ Claims

No Real Evidence for Rebel Allegations

Israeli Vice Premier Moshe Ya’alon, seen as one of a handful of front-runners for the Defense Ministry post after the January election, has added more doubts to the Syrian rebels’ claims of the regime using “poison gas,” saying there was no “confirmation or proof” for the allegation.

“The opposition has an interest in drawing in international military intervention,” Ya’alon added. The US has also said they doubt the rebels’ claims were authentic, noting several inconsistencies in the story.

The Syrian opposition claimed the attack was in Homs and that six rebel fighters had died after inhaling “poison gas” on the front line. Ya’alon said that from the photos released “it could be other things,” but did not elaborate.

The Assad government has repeatedly ruled out using chemical or biological weapons for its internal fighting, saying those weapons are exclusively meant as a foil against foreign invasion. The Obama Administration’s repeated threats to attack if such weapons were used, however, has added a great deal of incentive into the rebels selling that narrative.

Author: Jason Ditz

Jason Ditz is Senior Editor for Antiwar.com. He has 20 years of experience in foreign policy research and his work has appeared in The American Conservative, Responsible Statecraft, Forbes, Toronto Star, Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Providence Journal, Washington Times, and the Detroit Free Press.