On October 26, 2017, the seventh report of the Joint Investigative Mechanism between the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons and
the United Nations was released.
The report highlighted incidents that occurred in Um-Housh on September 15/16, 2016, and in Khan Shaykhun on April 4, 2017.
The report held the Bashar al-Assad regime responsible for the chemical attack on the town of Khan Shaykhun, which was under opposition control, causing the death of dozens of civilians.
The report also held the responsibility for the use of the chemical mustard gas in the town of Um Housh on September 15 and 16, 2016
to the Islamic State (ISIS). It condemned the continuous use of chemical weapons, including by non-governmental entities, describing it as ‘concerning.’
The report also issued, ‘If this use of chemical weapons continues despite the international ban, the absence of deterrence will undoubtedly encourage others to do the same.’
Read the report