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Chemical Weapons massacre in Ghouta Syria, August 21, 2013 (محمد السعيد)

COGwriter

It is reported that chemical weapons are again being deployed in Syria, and US President Trump says there will be a big price to pay:

April 8, 2018

Syrian opposition activists and rescuers said Sunday that a poison gas attack on a rebel-held town near the capital has killed at least 40 people, allegations denied by the Syrian government.

The alleged attack in the town of Douma occurred late Saturday amid a resumed offensive by Syrian government forces after the collapse of a truce.

The reports could not be independently verified.

The United States has called on Russia to end its support for the Syrian government immediately and “work with the international community to prevent further, barbaric chemical weapons attacks.” …

White Helmets

Opposition-linked first responders, known as the White Helmets, reported the attack, saying entire families were found suffocated in their homes and shelters. It reported a death toll from suffocation of more than 40, saying the victims showed signs of gas poisoning including pupil dilation and foaming at the mouth. In a statement, however, it reported a smell resembling chlorine, which would not explain the described symptoms, usually associated with sarin gas.

It said around 500 people were treated for suffocation and other symptoms, adding that most medical facilities and ambulances were put out of service because of the shelling.

Rebels claimed Syrian government forces dropped barrel bombs containing poisonous chemicals on civilians Saturday, as Syria continued its offensive against the last rebel-held town in eastern Ghouta

Syrian state media denied the rebels’ claim, as troops launched an assault on Douma, near the capital Damascus.

SAMS said a chlorine bomb hit Douma hospital, however Observatory director Rami Abdulrahman said he could not confirm the use of chemical weapons.

The Syrian American Medical Society, a relief organization, said 41 people were killed and hundreds wounded.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said at least 80 people were killed in Douma on Saturday, including around 40 who died from suffocation. But it said the suffocations were the result of shelters collapsing on people inside. https://www.voanews.com/a/us-russia-syria-chemical-attack/4337472.html

Many dead, including women and children, in mindless CHEMICAL attack in Syria. Area of atrocity is in lockdown and encircled by Syrian Army, making it completely inaccessible to outside world. President Putin, Russia and Iran are responsible for backing Animal Assad. Big price…

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 8, 2018

….to pay. Open area immediately for medical help and verification. Another humanitarian disaster for no reason whatsoever. SICK!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 8, 2018

If President Obama had crossed his stated Red Line In The Sand, the Syrian disaster would have ended long ago! Animal Assad would have been history!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 8, 2018

Some have questioned if the Syrian government is actually responsible for this:

April 8, 2018

It’s deja vu all over again.

Remember when the US admitted Syrian “Rebels” have used chemical weapons? Or when earlier this year, now former Secretary of State blamed Russia for an alleged Syrian chemical attack despite admitting he doesn’t know who actually did it? Well, maybe you do, but the neocons back in charge of US war foreign policy – now that war hawk John Bolton is Trump’s National Security Advisor – are so stuck with the age-old narrative that Assad is desperate to be bombed at any cost, that none of this actually matter, and instead overnight the big story once again is that lo and behold, Assad decided to gas some rebels again, despite knowing well that almost exactly one year ago an alleged “chemical attack” prompted Trump to launch dozens of Tomahawks at Syria.

This is what happened (if you’ve seen this script played out before, you are not alone).

On Saturday night, an alleged chemical attack on a rebel-held town in eastern Ghouta reportedly killed dozens of people, according to US-linked medical services with Washington immediately responding that the reports – if confirmed – would demand an immediate international response. Actually scratch the “if confirmed” part – after all, the last time the US “intervened” in Syria, on April 7, 2017 or exactly one year ago, the US did not need confirmation; Trump just needed a geopolitical distraction.

Well, it seems that he needs another one again.  …

The response from the Assad side was just as predictable: the Syrian regime, whose overthrow the US failed to achieve in the course of the 6 year proxy war in order to facilitate the transport of Qatari natural gas to Europe, denied its forces had launched any chemical attack as the reports began circulating and said the rebels were collapsing and fabricating news.

The Syrian state news agency SANA said Jaish al-Islam was making “chemical attack fabrications in an exposed and failed attempt to obstruct advances by the Syrian Arab army,” citing an official source.

Meanwhile, Reuters said it could not independently verify the reports. Others did the same: The Syrian Observatory said it could not confirm whether chemical weapons had been used in the attack on Saturday. https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2018-04-08/trump-threatens-assad-putin-over-syrian-chemical-attack-russia-warns-gravest

Irrespective of who and/or why chemical weapons are being used, there have been issues with them in Syria for years.

Back in 2012, then US President Obama claimed that the use of chemical weapons by Syria would be a ‘red line’ it had better not cross or else (see Syria’s Assad Cornered and Considering Using Chemical Weapons?).

The threat by Barack Obama was not considered to have been effective as chemical weapons were used several times in 2013:

The U.N. mission found likely use of the nerve agent Sarin in the case of Khan Al-Asal (19 March 2013), Saraqib (29 April 2013), Ghouta (21 August 2013), Jobar (24 August 2013) and Ashrafiyat Sahnaya (25 August 2013). The UNHRC commission later confirmed the use of Sarin in the Khan al-Asal, Saraqib and Ghouta attacks, but did not mention the Jobar and the Ashrafiyat Sahnaya attacks.That Sarin was used in Khan al-Asal was also the conclusion of the Russian investigation of the attack.

The UNHRC commission also found that the Sarin used in the Khan al-Asal attack bore “the same unique hallmarks” as the Sarin used in the Ghouta attack and indicated that the perpetrators likely had access to chemicals from the Syrian Army’s stockpile. (Use of chemical weapons in the Syrian civil war. Wikipedia, accessed 04/14/2015)

Furthermore, 837 people were believed to have been killed by chemical weapons in Syria during August 2015 (ibid).

Although the media reported that the USA was seriously considering an attack near then (see NBC: U.S. ‘Military action is coming’ to Syria and Reuters: West may strike Syria within days), this did not happen. Opposition forces to the Assad regime in Syria were disappointed (see John Kerry claims Syria used Sarin gas; Assad opposition disappointed in Barack Obama).

In early September 2013, Pope Francis prayed for ‘Mary’s’ intervention (see Pope Francis’ ‘solution’ to Syrian crisis will not work). The USA, Russia, and Syria made a deal (see Russia, Syria, and Kerry suggest relinquishment of Syrian chemical weapons: Will the Vatican claim credit?).

The Assad regime claimed it was victorious because of the deal (see Assad’s government claims victory because of Russian deal). By November 2013, this basically led to the rise of certain Islamic rebels in Syria (see Islamic rebels form confederation and are rising in Syria).

This led to the rise of the Islamic State by January 2014 (see Nearly 500 reportedly killed between rebels and Al-Qaeda; Obama policies satirically portrayed in Syrian graphics), which declared itself a caliphate in June 2014 (see ISIL declares itself ‘Islamic State’ and Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi as caliph).

In February 2014, US Secretary of State John Kerry admitted failure dealing with Syria (see Syria still has 96% of its chemical weapons; John Kerry indicates US policy on Syria is failing). This failure also seemed to result in the refugee situation as millions have left Syria.

Although by April 2014 it was reported that most of the Assad chemical weapons capability had been destroyed, twice in April 2014, chemical weapons were reportedly used (see Although most Syrian chemical weapons are claimed to be gone, allegedly some were used again today! and Chemical weapons again used in Syria).

In April 2015, chemical weapons were reportedly again used in Syria (see Syria seemingly used chemical weapons again, USA program has not worked).

In September 2015, CBS reported that the Obama Administration had not been upfront about the removal/destruction of chemical weapons in Syria (see CBS reports Obama Administration not being upfront about Islamic State, who also now has chemical weapons.).

In April 2016, the Syrian government accused the so-called Islamic State of using chemical weapons (see Islamic State accused of using ‘mustard gas,’ which suggests that the USA did not get all chemical weapons in Syria destroyed as claimed; London, Berlin, and Rome threatened).

In April 2017, chemical weapons were used again (see Chemical weapons again used in Syria). Later that April, US President Trump ordered bombs to be dropped in Syria (see Trump bombed Syria: How might this align with biblical prophecy?).

Six Aprils in a row, we have seen reports of chemical weapons use in Syria.

Despite USA efforts and interventions over the years, chemical weapons are still allegedly being used by the Assad regime or its opposition.

US President Trump now states that there will be a big price to pay.

Presumably, this is a military price–seemingly more bombs than last time.

Although I do not expect the USA to launch a massive attack against Syria’s capital at this time, notice some of what Bible prophecies teaches will one day happen to Syria’s capital Damascus:

7 thus says the Lord God: “It shall not stand, Nor shall it come to pass. 8 For the head of Syria is Damascus (Isaiah 7:7-8).

3 Thus says the Lord: “For three transgressions of Damascus, and for four, I will not turn away its punishment, Because they have threshed Gilead with implements of iron. (Amos 1:3)

1 The burden against Damascus. “Behold, Damascus will cease from being a city, And it will be a ruinous heap. (Isaiah 17:1)

23 Against Damascus. “Hamath and Arpad are shamed, For they have heard bad news. They are fainthearted; There is trouble on the sea; It cannot be quiet. 24 Damascus has grown feeble; She turns to flee, And fear has seized her. Anguish and sorrows have taken her like a woman in labor. 25 Why is the city of praise not deserted, the city of My joy? 26 Therefore her young men shall fall in her streets, And all the men of war shall be cut off in that day,” says the Lord of hosts. 27 “I will kindle a fire in the wall of Damascus, And it shall consume the palaces of Ben-Hadad.” (Jeremiah 49:23-27)

Damascus has been claimed to be the “oldest continuously inhabited city” in the world. And while some have questioned that claim, the reality is that Damascus has not been destroyed to the point of becoming the “ruinous heap” since God inspired Isaiah to record that.

This destruction could come as the result of a regional war with Syria, Iran, and Israel, with possible USA involvement.

The situation for the Arab world and the rest of the Middle East will have ups and downs.

The Bible tells of a time when another peace deal that will affect the region will be made , but that deal will not last too many years (Daniel 9:27). The Bible says that a leader called the King of the South will arise and make one or two other deals with a European leader (Daniel 11:27; Psalm 83:3-8).

The Bible teaches that 3 1/2 years after a particular deal has been confirmed by a “prince” (Daniel 9:26-27), more war will later come as the European King of the North will come to Israel and also destroy the USA (Daniel 11:31-39; see also USA in Prophecy: The Strongest Fortresses).

The Bible says that a coalition of peoples in the Middle East and North Africa will support the King of the South against the European King of the North, but that the supporters of the King of the South will be defeated (Daniel 11:40-43; Ezekiel 30:2-8).

While few wish to believe it, it will take the return of Jesus Christ and the establishment of the Kingdom of God to truly solve the conflicts in the Middle East and elsewhere.

Threats, even if carried out, by USA presidents will not prevent the wars that are prophesied to come.

Those in Syria are in my prayers.

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This entry was posted on Sunday, April 8th, 2018 at 8:00 am and is filed under Prophecy.

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