EU High Representative Federica Mogherini condemned in the strongest terms the air strike that hit the town of Khan Sheikhoun in Idlib province on 4 April 2017, and urged the United Nations Security Council to come together, strongly condemn the attack on Khan Sheikhoun and ensure a swift, independent and impartial investigation of the attack.

“The use of chemical weapons or chemical substances as weapons amounts to a war crime. Their use in Syria, including by the regime and Da’esh, must stop and identified perpetrators must be held accountable for this violation of international law,” said Mogherini in a statement, calling for those guilty of violations of international law and the use of chemical weapons to be sanctioned accordingly.

She reaffirmed that the EU will continue to support the efforts of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) in Syria with regard to the investigation of the use of chemical weapons.

“This attack constitutes a flagrant violation of the ceasefire. It underlines the urgent need for a real and verified ceasefire,” said the High Representative, calling on Russia, Turkey and Iran to live up to their commitments as guarantors in this regard.

“Attacks of this kind only reinforce the urgent need for a genuine political transition in Syria and the EU’s will to support UN efforts to broker a political solution to the Syrian conflict through the intra-Syrian talks in Geneva, as reaffirmed at the International Conference “Supporting the future of Syria and the region” that the EU hosted in Brussels on 5 April 2017,” Mogherini concluded.

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Statement

Council conclusions on Syria (03/04/2017)

“Supporting the Future of Syria and the Region” Conference webpage

EEAS webpage on EU actions related to the Syria crisis.

Factsheet: The EU and the crisis in Syria