Anadolu Agency reporter recalls horror of Idlib attack

By Mohamad Misto and Adham Kako

IDLIB, Syria (AA) - A freelance correspondent for Anadolu Agency suffered the effects of Tuesday’s suspected chemical weapons attack in Syria’s Idlib province.

Abdurrauf Kantar, who arrived in Idlib’s town of Khan Shaykun on Tuesday a full two hours after the attack, was nevertheless taken to hospital after showing symptoms of gas exposure.

"I wasn't able to breath and began foaming at the mouth,” Kantar told Anadolu Agency on Wednesday. “I couldn’t see and couldn’t close my eyes.”

“While in intensive care, the doctor gave me frequent injections,” he recalled. “At one point, I received more than 20 injections within a single hour.”

Kantar, who was discharged from hospital on Wednesday morning, blamed Syria’s Assad regime for the attack, which left over 100 people dead -- including women and children -- and another 500 injured.

Tuesday’s attack came one day after Syrian regime aircraft reportedly carried out a similar attack in Idlib’s town of Al-Habit in which dozens were affected.

Last year, a UN-appointed fact-finding committee concluded that chemical weapons had been used by both Syrian regime forces and opposition groups in 2014 and 2015.

No punitive measures were taken, however.