THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) – An investigation by the international chemical weapons watchdog has concluded that sarin or a sarin-like substance was used as a chemical weapon in an April 4 attack on a Syrian town that left more than 90 people dead, diplomats said Thursday.
The report by the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons into the Khan Sheikhoun attack was not publicly released, but two diplomats who saw its contents confirmed the key finding that sarin was used. One of the diplomats spoke on condition of anonymity because the report had not been made public.
U.S. envoy to the United Nations Nikki Haley issued a written statement expressing confidence in the report, “which confirms what we already knew: chemical weapons were used against the Syrian people.”
“Now that we know the undeniable truth, we look forward to an independent investigation to confirm exactly who was responsible for these brutal attacks so we can find justice for the victims,” Haley added.
The OPCW investigation did not have a mandate to apportion blame. It will be sent to a joint United Nations-OPCW investigative mission that aims to establish who was responsible for the attack.