Airstrikes follow alleged gas attack in Syria

Russian airstrikes on Sunday targeted Syrian rebels accused of launching a poison gas attack on the government-held city of Aleppo that affected about 100 people. Aleppo Police Chief Essam al-Shali told Syrian state TV that the suspected chemical attack hit the al-Khalidiya neighborhood and affected at least two other areas in the city. Rami Abdurrahman, who heads the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said the stench of gas filled the city. Doctors told state TV that the victims had breathing problems and blurred vision.

The Syrian government has faced multiple accusations from Western nations of staging chemical attacks during the country’s seven-year civil war. Syria and Russia have repeatedly denied the accusations and blamed rebel groups instead. Those rebel groups also denied responsibility for the latest gas attack and accused Syria of trying to undermine a cease-fire reached in September. The international Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons said Monday it was considering sending a team to Aleppo to investigate the incident.