Syrian government, rebels accuse each other of gas attack
This Sunday, July. 31, 2016 photo, provided by the Syrian anti-government activist group Aleppo Media Center (AMC), shows a Syrian young man burns tyres in an attempt to prevent airstrikes above Aleppo, Syria. Residents trapped in rebel-controlled Aleppo are struggling to survive the crippling encirclement of their once thriving city. Bread, medication and fuel are running short. For the tens of thousands who chose to remain, the battle for Aleppo is a pivot point in the Syrian war. (Aleppo Media Center via AP)
This photo provided by the Syrian anti-government activist group Aleppo Media Center shows Syrian citizens after airstrikes hit a market Tuesday. (Aleppo Media Center via AP)
This photo provided by the Syrian anti-government activist group Aleppo Media Center (AMC), shows Syrian citizens inspecting damaged shops after airstrikes hit a market in Atareb, west of the divided city of Aleppo, Syria, Tuesday, Aug 2, 2016. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory said at least 11 people, including five children were killed when bombs were dropped in a market in Atareb. (Aleppo Media Center via AP)
This Tuesday, July. 26, 2016 photo, provided by the Syrian anti-government activist group Aleppo Media Center (AMC), shows Syrian stand as they watch a bulldozer removes rubble from damaged buildings after airstrikes hit Aleppo, Syria. Residents trapped in rebel-controlled Aleppo are struggling to survive the crippling encirclement of their once thriving city. Bread, medication and fuel are running short. For the tens of thousands who chose to remain, the battle for Aleppo is a pivot point in the Syrian war. (Aleppo Media Center via AP)
In this Sunday, July. 31, 2016 photo, provided by the Syrian anti-government activist group Aleppo Media Center (AMC), shows Syrians help an injured man, center, after airstrikes hit Aleppo, Syria. Residents trapped in rebel-controlled Aleppo are struggling to survive the crippling encirclement of their once thriving city. Bread, medication and fuel are running short. For the tens of thousands who chose to remain, the battle for Aleppo is a pivot point in the Syrian war. (Aleppo Media Center via AP)
In this Friday, July. 29, 2016 photo, provided by the Syrian anti-government activist group Aleppo Media Center (AMC), shows Syrian citizens inspect damaged buildings after airstrikes hit Aleppo, Syria. Residents trapped in rebel-controlled Aleppo are struggling to survive the crippling encirclement of their once thriving city. Bread, medication and fuel are running short. For the tens of thousands who chose to remain, the battle for Aleppo is a pivot point in the Syrian war. (Aleppo Media Center via AP)
In this Wednesday, July. 27, 2016 photo, provided by the Syrian anti-government activist group Aleppo Media Center (AMC), shows Syrian citizens inspect damaged buildings after airstrikes hit Aleppo, Syria. Residents trapped in rebel-controlled Aleppo are struggling to survive the crippling encirclement of their once thriving city. Bread, medication and fuel are running short. For the tens of thousands who chose to remain, the battle for Aleppo is a pivot point in the Syrian war. (Aleppo Media Center via AP)
FILE - In this Saturday, July 30, 2016 file still image from Syrian state TV video, shows young men with their faces covered surrendering to government forces, in Aleppo, Syria. Residents trapped in rebel-controlled Aleppo are struggling to survive the crippling encirclement of their once thriving city. Bread, medication and fuel are running short. For the tens of thousands who chose to remain, the battle for Aleppo is a pivot point in the Syrian war. (Syrian State TV, via AP, File)
FILE - In this Saturday, July 30, 2016 file still image from Syrian state TV video, shows women and children arriving in a street lined with heavily damaged buildings in the government-held part of the Salaheddine neighborhood of Aleppo, Syria. Residents trapped in rebel-controlled Aleppo are struggling to survive the crippling encirclement of their once thriving city. Bread, medication and fuel are running short. For the tens of thousands who chose to remain, the battle for Aleppo is a pivot point in the Syrian war. (Syrian State TV, via AP, File)
In this Friday, July. 29, 2016 photo, provided by the Syrian anti-government activist group Aleppo Media Center (AMC), shows a Syrian boy passes by by a market where gasoline stored in barrels is sold, in Aleppo, Syria. Residents trapped in rebel-controlled Aleppo are struggling to survive the crippling encirclement of their once thriving city. Bread, medication and fuel are running short. For the tens of thousands who chose to remain, the battle for Aleppo is a pivot point in the Syrian war. (Aleppo Media Center via AP)
FILE - In this file photo taken on June 8, 2016 provided by the Syrian Civil Defense Directorate in Liberated Province of Aleppo, which has been authenticated based on its contents and other AP reporting, shows Syrian civil defense workers, right, helps an injured woman after warplanes attacked a street, in Aleppo, Syria. Residents trapped in rebel-controlled Aleppo are struggling to survive the crippling encirclement of their once thriving city. Bread, medication and fuel are running short. For the tens of thousands who chose to remain, the battle for Aleppo is a pivot point in the Syrian war. (Civil Defense Directorate in Liberated Province of Aleppo via AP, File)
BEIRUT — Syrian rebels and government forces on Tuesday accused each other of launching toxic gas attacks on civilians..
Rebel sources provided video of people receiving treatment who they say were among the victims of a gas attack on Monday, but the images were not conclusive and neither claims by the rebels nor the government could be independently verified.
The accusations from both sides came amid heightened fighting around the contested city of Saraqib that has killed at least 20 people, activists and government media reported.
Rescuers and doctors in the rebel-held town reported dozens of cases of severe breathing difficulties, saying the symptoms pointed to a chlorine gas attack. Dr. Ibrahim al-Assad, a neurologist, said he treated 16 of the 29 cases brought to his hospital on Monday night, most of whom were women and children. Most were suffering from breathing difficulties, red eyes and wheezing, al-Assad said.
He said first responders smelled the gas at the site of the bomb attack, which he described as a busy shopping area near an ice cream shop.
Rebels and activists have reported chlorine gas attacks in the town before, but the lack of chemical labs or independent testers makes it difficult to verify these claims. The government denies that is has launched chlorine gas attacks.
Syrian state media later reported that five people had died and eight others had experienced breathing difficulties after artillery shells laced with toxic gases landed on the old city of Aleppo. It said the shells were launched by rebels.
