syria-un-20171026 8

S/2017/904 8/33 17-18978 Mechanism made this finding on the basis of the following: medical records indicating that the victims had been admitted to Afrin Hospital on 16 September 2016, approximately 23 hours after their exposure to the chemical agent; witness interviews; and the determination of medical experts that the blisters of the victims would have been at least 12 hours old at the time of their initial hospitalization. 32. On the basis of further witness statements, satellite imagery and verified footage from the above-mentioned news crew, the Mechanism found that a second incident involving the use of chemical weapons had occurred on the following day, 16 September 2016, when a mortar shell had been lodged into the pavement between 1315 and 1500 hours. 33. On the basis of witness interviews, the Mechanism determined that a number of people in addition to the two victims interviewed by the Fact-Finding Mission might have been affected by sulfur mustard and in need of medical attention. Their symptoms ranged from slight to severe, with the two victims still suffering from the consequences to date. The Mechanism identified and interviewed only the two victims. 34. Regarding the make and origin of the mortar shells, forensic analysis determined that the mortar shell recovered from the pavement was of an improvised or makeshift origin. On the basis of witness descriptions and a comparative analysis of photographs of the mortar shells, experts determined the munition recovered from the house to be of the same type as the one found in the pavement. 35. The forensic institutes and individual experts determined the range of the mortar shells to be from 1 to 2 km. The delivery trajectory of the mortar shell found in the pavement was determined to have originated from a point somewhere to the east or south-east of the village. It was difficult to arrive at a precise determination as to the trajectory of the mortar shell that had hit the house. However, on the basis of the assessed trajectory of the mortar shell that had damaged the wall of the house, combined with that of the munition found in the pavement, forensic analysis indicated that the most likely launch point had been somewhere to the east or south-east of the village. 36. With respect to identifying those responsible, the Leadership Panel has determined that there is sufficient credible and reliable evidence of the following: (a) The trajectory of the mortar shell found in the pavement was determined to have originated from a point somewhere to the east or south-east of the village. The damage to the victim’s house indicated that the mortar shell that had caused it had originated from a point south-east of the village; (b) Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) was fighting against the Syrian Democratic Forces from the outskirts of Umm Hawsh on 15 and 16 September 2016; (c) ISIL was positioned along three sides of Umm Hawsh, specifically to the east of the village (the assessed origin of the chemical mortar shells); (d) Owing to the limited range (1 to 2 km) of the mortar shells, only ISIL and the Syrian Democratic Forces were within striking distance of the impact locations; (e) As the Syrian Democratic Forces and ISIL were in active combat and witness statements and forensic analysis support the conclusion that the mortar shells came from the direction of ISIL-held areas, it is very unlikely that the Syrian Democratic Forces are responsible for the incident