U.N. Set to Vote on Syria Chemical Weapons Probe

The United Nations’ Security Council is set to vote on Friday on a draft proposal to create a panel tasked with investigating who is responsible for deadly attacks with chemical weapons, namely chlorine gas, in Syria, according to Agence France-Presse.

Under discussion for months, the U.S.-drafted resolution would set up a team of experts tasked with identifying the perpetrators of the chemical weapons attacks, paving the way for possible sanctions, Agence France-Presse reports.

Along with its allies, the U.S. has consistently blamed Syrian president Bashar al-Assad’s government for chemical weapons attacks.

Although Russia, an ally of the Syrian government, blocked a similar resolution last year, U.S. secretary of state John Kerry was reportedly able to gain Russian support for this version of the resolution. The vote comes at a time when discussions are moving forward over strengthening restrictions on the use of other deadly weapons, such as barrel bombs.

ISIS Advances in Homs Area, According to Syria Monitor

ISIS captured a strategically significant town in the Homs area of central Syria, according to the U.K.-based watchdog the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

Situated in southeastern countryside of Homs, al-Qaryatain fell to ISIS fighters overnight on Wednesday following clashes between the militant group and forces loyal to Syrian president Bashar al-Assad, the Syrian Observatory’s chief Rami Abdulrahman told Agence France-Presse, who added that 37 regime soldiers and loyalist fighters and 23 ISIS fighters were killed.

“The control of al-Qaryatain allows ISIS to link the areas under its control in the eastern countryside of Homs with the areas under its control in the eastern countryside of Qalamun, and allows it to transfer fighters and supplies between the two regions,” Abdulrahman added.

Rebel Leader Speaks Out Against U.S. Plan to Train Anti-ISIS Groups

Captain Ammar al-Wawi, leader of the U.S.-trained and backed Division 30, publicly denounced the U.S. and its allies for failing to protect his fighters when they were attacked last week by Jabhat al-Nusra, the Syrian arm of al-Qaida, according to the BBC.

Shortly after Division 30 entered Syria from Turkey, Nusra fighters launched an offensive on them, resulting in the deaths of at least 5 fighters and the abduction of another 10.

The training of Division 30 is part of a larger plan – announced by President Barack Obama last summer – in which the U.S. hopes to train and arm fighters who oppose the Islamic State. Although the Pentagon-funded plan seeks to train up to 5,000 fighters from more moderate Sunni armed groups in Syria, fewer than 60 have completed the program to date.

Al-Wawi said, “If it takes this long to train 60, it will take decades to get everyone ready.”

Jabhat al-Nusra subsequently released a video of the abductees and in a statement denounced the U.S. and its “long filthy capitalistic arm” for increasing its involvement in Syria.

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