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Chemical warfare

A man walks next to heavily damaged buildings and destroyed cars following Russian attacks in Bakhmut, Donetsk region, eastern Ukraine, May 24, 2022.

Ukrainian doctors train for the possibility of a chemical attack from Russia

Ukraine

Since the start of the war in Ukraine, medical workers have been concerned about the possibility of Russia using chemical agents against civilians. That hasn’t happened yet (none on official record) but a Syrian American nongovernmental organization is helping Ukrainian medical workers prepare for the worst.

Protesters hold umbrellas in thick tear gas.

Tear gas has been banned in warfare. Why do police still use it?

Conflict & Justice
A missile is seen crossing over Damascus, Syria, April 14, 2018.

US says it’s ready to strike Syria again if there is further use of chemical weapons

Conflict
A man is washed following alleged chemical weapons attack, in what is said to be Duma, Syria in this still image from video obtained by Reuters on April 8, 2018.

Russia accuses Israel over strike on Syrian air base

Conflict
The Iraqi army destroys what it says is an IED planted by ISIS containing chlorine gas in March 2015.

A century after its first-ever use, the original chemical weapon has made a comeback

Conflict
Chinese commando guards

Finally, the chemical weapon materials are moving out of Syria

Conflict & Justice

After months of diplomacy, preparation and training, the first batch of Syria’s chemical weapons are out of the country and in international waters. It’s just the start.

A Lebanese nun argues the US and others are wrong about Syria and should negotiate peace

Conflict & Justice

Mother Agnes is the Lebanese nun who stirred controversy after she disputed evidence of a chemical attack by the Syrian government. She’s now calling for a negotiated solution to the Syrian conflict.

Workers dressed in protective clothes hold a mock chemical World War Two grenade during a demonstration

Wanted: Peaceful place to destroy toxic WMDs, no experience required

Conflict & Justice

The UN-linked group responsible for destroying Syria’s chemical weapons arsenal wants to do the destruction away from Syria’s civil war. But no country has offered to host the operation, which involves toxic chemicals. The other alternative is to do it at sea, but that is hardly ideal.

Bunnies on Okunojima, Japan

Cuddly Rabbit Island in Japan has something of a sinister past

Environment

Just an hour and half from Hiroshima lies the tiny island of Okunojima, probably better known as Rabbit Island. The island is populated by bunnies and tourists feeding those bunnies — but if you look closely you can see remnants of the island’s past.

The OPCW Inspection Team leaving for Syria on 30 September.

Nobel Prize shoves the small Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons into the spotlight

Conflict & Justice

A very famous girl was passed over for the peace prize. Instead, the Nobel committee chose a very obscure UN group tasked with eliminating chemical weapons across the globe.