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The United Nations is investigating the alleged use of white phosphorus in Syria as horrific photos emerge of young children reportedly suffering from chemical burns.
The UN’s Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons has said it would be investigating the use of chemical weapons in Syria, but stressed it had not confirmed the allegations.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has dismissed the claims as “slander”.
“There are certainly no chemical weapons in the inventory of our armed forces. This is all slander against our armed forces,” he said late last week.
Kurdish authorities have accused Turkey of using banned weapons such as napalm and white phosphorous.
The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces have urged international watchdogs to look into the suspected use of “unconventional weapons” by Turkish-backed forces.
Graphic photos released by the SDF show a young boy lying in a hospital covered in grisly burns.
Experts have said the injuries shown by a small number of children in Syria appear to be consistent with those caused by chemical weapons.
Kurdish sources have called for an investigation into the alleged uses of banned chemical weapons in Syria. Source: Hawar News Agency
Late last week Amnesty International said it had gathered “damning evidence” of war crimes committed against Syrian Kurds by Turkish and Turkish-backed forces.
Amnesty International general secretary Kumi Naidoo said the Turkish offensive in north east Syria had been wreaking havoc on the lives of civilians.
“Turkish military forces and their allies have displayed an utterly callous disregard for civilian lives, launching unlawful deadly attacks in residential areas that have killed and injured civilians,” he said.
Mr Erdogan has distanced Turkey from the claims and said the Turkish military would be investigating allegations against Turkish-backed forces.
American volunteers search the rubble of a house for the bodies of victims at Ras al-Ain town, northeastern Syria. Source: EPA
“Whoever commits such an act is no different from (IS),” he said.
“We cannot accept such a thing.”
Turkey is allied with the Syrian National Army rebel group.
The Syrian National Army was singled out by Amnesty International for allegedly executing a prominent Kurdish politician.
“Turkey is responsible for the actions of the Syrian armed groups it supports, arms and directs,” said Mr Naidoo from Amnesty International.
“We call on Turkey again to end violations, hold perpetrators accountable, and protect civilians living under their control. Turkey cannot evade responsibility by outsourcing war crimes to armed groups.”
Kurdish fighters and civilians , opening the way for Turkish-backed forces to take over the area.
The evacuation of Ras al-Ain is the first pullback under a three-day-old US-brokered ceasefire.
Kurdish officials said it would be followed by a withdrawal of their forces from a broader section of the border with Turkey, a central requirement of the ceasefire deal.
The withdrawal is supposed to take place before Tuesday evening, when the pause in fighting is set to end.
With AFP.
