A/HRC/25/65 C. Use of illegal weapons 1. Chemical weapons 127. In its report, the United Nations Mission to Investigate Allegations of the Use of Chemical Weapons in the Syrian Arab Republic confirmed that chemical weapons, specifically sarin, had been used in multiple incidents during the conflict.4 The commission independently collected information, confirming this finding in the case of Al-Ghouta (21 August), Khan Al-Assal (19 March) and Saraqib (29 April). 128. In Al-Ghouta, significant quantities of sarin were used in a well-planned indiscriminate attack targeting civilian-inhabited areas, causing mass casualties. The evidence available concerning the nature, quality and quantity of the agents used on 21 August indicated that the perpetrators likely had access to the chemical weapons stockpile of the Syrian military, as well as the expertise and equipment necessary to manipulate safely large amount of chemical agents. Concerning the incident in Khan Al-Assal on 19 March, the chemical agents used in that attack bore the same unique hallmarks as those used in Al-Ghouta. 129. Other allegations of chemical weapons use investigated displayed markedly different circumstances and took place on a significantly smaller scale. In no incident was the commission’s evidentiary threshold met with regard to the perpetrator. 2. Incendiary weapons 130. On 26 August, an army fighter jet dropped two incendiary bombs on the town of Urem Al-Koubra (Aleppo), one of which landed on a school. The bomb created “a ball of fire” that killed 10 civilians and severely injured dozens of others, mostly children and teenagers. While it remains unclear what flammable material was used, the bomb caused napalm-like effects. Victims, some of whom did not survive, were disfigured, with secondand third-degree burns on up to 80 per cent of their bodies, and suffered extreme pain. 131. By using incendiary bombs in the Urem Al-Koubra school incident, the Government violated rules of international humanitarian law prohibiting the use of weapons that cause superfluous injury, unnecessary suffering or that are indiscriminate by nature. D. Sieges and economic, social and cultural rights 1. Government forces and pro-government militia 132. The Government employs siege warfare, instrumentalizing basic human needs for water, food, shelter and medical care, as part of its military strategy. Sieges have been imposed on towns across the Syrian Arab Republic. Besieged areas have been relentlessly shelled and bombarded. Government forces have restricted the distribution of humanitarian aid, including surgical supplies, on the grounds that they can be used to treat injured combatants. Such tactics are in direct breach of binding international humanitarian law obligations to ensure that wounded and sick persons are collected and cared for, and to ensure the rapid and unimpeded passage of humanitarian relief. The denial of humanitarian, including food aid, has been protracted in many areas, leading to malnutrition and starvation. The use of starvation of the civilian population as a method of warfare is prohibited. Such acts also violate core obligations under the right to adequate food and the right to the highest attainable standard of health. 4 A/67/997-S/2013/553. 19