Syria chemical weapons crisis

Syrian soldiers are seen at the battlefront of Jobar, near the capital of Damascus, on Aug. 24, 2013. Some Syrian soldiers on Saturday suffered suffocation after rebel militants released chemical substance around their hideouts near Damascus, the state-TV reported. [Bassem Tellawi/Xinhua]

A new chapter in the Syrian civil war, which had gripped the country since March 2011, unfolded on Aug. 21, 2013, with reports that chemical weapons had been used in the suburbs of Damascus, the Syrian capital. An unclassified U.S. intelligence report said at least 1,429 Syrians, including 426 children, were killed in the attack. Syrian opposition and Western governments blamed the attacks on the Syrian government, which denied responsibility. Western countries including the U.S. and France later drummed up support for a military strike against Syria as punishment for the alleged use of chemical weapons. Later, Syria accepted a proposal to hand over its chemical weapons to avoid a military attack.

The conflict continues as the Syrian government works with the U.N. to destroy its chemical weapons. An international conference will be held on Jan. 22 in Geneva that will bring Syrian leaders and opposition forces to the negotiation table.