KFAR ZEITA, April 22 — US government officials have said they believe Syrian armed forces loyal to president Bashar Al-Assad dropped chlorine gas from helicopters in a recent alleged chemical attack on the rebel held town of Kfar Zeita in Hamas Province.

Syrian opposition activists reported that helicopters dropped chlorine gas on Kfar Zeita on April 11 and 12.

Unconfirmed video clips posted on YouTube by Syrian rebels show the bombs appear to consist of a canister of liquid chlorine with an attached detonator.

The canisters are taken up in Syrian military helicopters and dropped on the target area in a manner similar to that of barrel bombs.

Exposure to chlorine gas at low levels can cause skin and eye irritation, a sore throat and coughing. Higher levels can result in temporary blindness and breathing difficulties, and eventually death.

A woman, affected by what activists say was a gas attack, breathes through an oxygen mask inside a field hospital in Kfar Zeita village in the central province of Hama April 12, 2014. — Reuters pic
A woman, affected by what activists say was a gas attack, breathes through an oxygen mask inside a field hospital in Kfar Zeita village in the central province of Hama April 12, 2014. — Reuters pic

The US State Department said on Monday that it was “examining allegations that the Syrian government was responsible.

According to Reuters, “the Syrian government failed to meet a February 5 deadline to move all of its declared chemical substances and precursors, some 1,300 metric tons, out of the country. It has since agreed to remove the weapons by late April.” — Reuters