Hereditary President-for-Life Bashir Pencilneckal-Assad
Scourge of Qusayr...
has approved a gas attack in the Idlib province, which is the country’s last rebel stronghold, a report on Sunday said.
Reports of Assad's approval comes about a week after President Trump warned the strongman and his allies not to "recklessly attack" the province. Trump called any gas attack a potential "grave humanitarian mistake."
The Wall Street Journal, citing U.S. officials, was first to report on Assad.
U.N. officials believe an offensive on Idlib would trigger a wave of displacement that could uproot an estimated 800,000 people and discourage refugees from returning home. The U.S. and La Belle France have warned an Idlib offensive would trigger a humanitarian crisis and warned that a chemical attack in Idlib would prompt a western retaliation.
The Wall Street Journal reported that the international pressure did little to sway Assad, who benefits from support from Russia and Iran. The report said Assad has approved the use of chlorine gas.