Ghouta chemical attack

Citing Russian intelligence, President Vladimir Putin warned that an incident similar to the alleged chemical attack in the Idlib area was imminent, possibly targeting a Damascus suburb. Mr. Putin said the goal was to discredit Syrian President Bashar al Assad.

Many world countries gave their support to U.S. air strikes on Syria on April 7. 

U.S. forces fired a barrage of cruise missiles at a Syrian air base on April 7 in response to a suspected chemical attack earlier in the week, with U.S. allies rallying around Washington after the strike. 

Victims of a suspected chemical attack in Syria appeared to show symptoms consistent with reaction to a nerve agent, the World Health Organization said on April 5. 

"Some cases appear to show additional signs consistent with exposure to organophosphorus chemicals, a category of chemicals that includes nerve agents," WHO said in a statement, putting the death toll at at least 70.

Russia stood by its ally Damascus on April 5 ahead of a United Nations Security Council meeting to address accusations the Syrian government launched a chemical weapons attack that killed scores of civilians.

UN war crimes investigators on Monday called on European countries to let them interview more newly-arrived Syrian refugees to document fresh violations, saying it had become increasingly difficult.

Air raids by Syrian government warplanes killed 28 civilians, including 10 children, near Damascus on Dec. 24, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitor said.

Human Rights Watch has accused Syrian rebel groups outside Damascus of war crimes after they placed hostages including civilians in cages for use as "human shields" to deter government strikes.
 

Human Rights Watch urged the United Nations on Aug. 20 to impose an arms embargo on the Syrian government after air strikes on a rebel town near the capital killed more than 100 people.

Syrian State news agency SANA reported that 5 people were killed and 37 injured in Damascus when rockets hit the capita of Syria. The rockets were launched from ISIS-controlled areas, while the Syrian Human Rights Watch confirmed the deaths.