June 14, 2013

The government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad issued a statement yesterday dismissing as “a caravan of lies” claims that his military had used chemical weapons on rebel forces. The statement came soon after the administration of President Barack Obama announced that the United States will give rebels “direct military aid” in the form of weapons. President Obama made that decision after U.S. intelligence agencies concluded Syrian forces under Assad were, in fact, using chemical weapons, including the nerve gas sarin, against the opposition. Sarin is a nerve agent 20 times as deadly as cyanide. It was one of a group of nerve agents Hitler had German scientists invent in preparation for World War II.

President Bashar al-Assad of Syria has been accused by U.S. officials of using chemical weapons against rebels challenging his rule. (AP/Wide World)

On June 13, the United Nations (UN) reported that at least 93,000 people have been killed in Syria since the start of the conflict in March 2011. More than 80 percent of those killed were men. However, the UN’s Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights has documented the deaths of more than 1,700 children under the age of 10. The office has also uncovered evidence that Assad’s forces have tortured and executed children.

Additional World Book articles:

• Syria: The Roots of Rebellion (a special report)
• The Middle East: From Fall to Spring (a special report)
• Syria 2011 (a Back in Time article)
• Syria 2012 (a Back in Time article)