A Syrian family from Zamalka, near Damascus, recalls the harrowing experience of surviving a chemical weapons attack in 2013 that killed hundreds of people. The attack, blamed on government forces led by then-President Bashar Assad, targeted several Damascus suburbs, including the area where the Arbeeni family resided. Despite the terrifying ordeal of locking themselves in a windowless room as gas leaked into their neighborhood, the family managed to survive while many of their neighbors perished.
Hussein Arbeeni, 41, vividly remembers the night when sarin gas filled the air, causing difficulty in breathing, eye irritation, and rapid heartbeats. Following instructions from local first responders, the family took shelter in a sealed room, using wet clothes to block out the toxic gas. After hours of uncertainty, they were rescued by White Helmets volunteers who urged them to evacuate the area immediately.
Although the family temporarily relocated after the attack, they eventually returned to Zamalka. Despite international threats and negotiations, the perpetrators behind the attack were not held accountable. Arbeeni, reflecting on the tragedy and loss in his community, calls for justice for the victims and expresses a desire for the perpetrators to face severe consequences.
As he gazes at his 12-year-old son, Arbeeni’s resolve for accountability remains steadfast, emphasizing the importance of seeking justice for the innocent lives lost in the horrific attack.
Laith, a baby at the time of the attack. The new authorities in Syria are led by the jihadi group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, or HTS, which late last month launched a stunning offensive from its northwestern stronghold that blitzed across large swaths of Syria and toppled Assad. They have vowed to bring to justice former Syrian government officials blamed for atrocities. But times are still unsettled — a few short weeks after Assad’s ouster, no one knows what Syria’s future will look like. “The overthrow of the Assad government creates the possibility of justice for thousands of victims of atrocities, including those killed by chemical and other banned weapons,” says Adam Coogle, deputy director with the Middle East and North Africa division at Human Rights Watch. “But justice will only happen if the new authorities prioritize it and urgently act to preserve evidence,” Coogle added. He urged for immediate access for U.N. agencies and international experts who would create a comprehensive plan to ensure that Syrians can seek justice and accountability. On Wednesday, about a dozen people visited the Martyrs Cemetery in Zamalka and the graves of people from the area killed during Syria’s nearly 14-year war. Arbeeni’s brother, Hassan, pointed to part of the cemetery that holds a mass grave. There are no names of the dead there, only a sign in Arabic that reads: “August 2013.” “The martyrs of the chemical attack are here,” Hassan said, and recited a Muslim prayer for the dead.
