Chlorine-packed barrel bombs injure 100 in NW Syria

ALEPPO, Syria

Syrian regime helicopters dropped a number of barrel bombs on opposition-held parts of Aleppo’s Sukkeri district on Tuesday, leaving scores of residents injured, according to local civil defense sources.

"Regime helicopters dropped barrel-bombs -- some of which contained chlorine gas -- on Sukkeri," civil defense officer Najib Ansari told Anadolu Agency.

"As a result, nearly 100 people, including women and children, have been admitted to Sukkeri’s Sahra Hospital," he said.

Those injured by the attack now suffer difficulties breathing, dizziness, vomiting and impaired vision, according to hospital officials who spoke anonymously due to fears for their safety.

Barrel bombs are improvised explosive devices packed with shrapnel and explosive material.

Usually dropped from Syrian army helicopters, the low-cost munitions are believed to have killed thousands of people since the Syria conflict began more than five years ago.

*Reporting by Halit Suleyman; Writing by Ahmet Sait Akcay