UN Security Council members wept after seeing doctors revive Syrian children

UN Security Council members wept while watching a horrific video showing the consequences of a chlorine chemical attack in northwestern Syria last month, the news agency Patria reports.

The video shows doctors trying to revive three children under the age of four. Samantha Power, the US ambassador, described the video as "very emotional" and said those responsible would be punished.

The Syrian government denies responsibility for the attack that occurred on March 16 in the Idlib region. Syrian doctors, confirming what activists reported after the attack, told the Security Council that helicopters were heard over the village of Sarmin.

Immediately after, they smelled "a strong smell of bleach," after which dozens of people came to the local hospital due to breathing problems.

Zaher Sahloul, president of the Syrian American Medical Society, said UN delegates were impressed by what they saw.

"Some of them were crying. Clearly, they are affected by what they saw and heard. Many said this was an unprecedented act and that the perpetrators should be brought to justice," Sahloul told the BBC, adding that many delegates believe the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons should conduct a swift and serious investigation.

Samantha Power said she did not see a dry eye in the room.

"This record will be documented and at some point used in court," Power said.

Activists said the Syrian government dropped five bombs containing chlorine. The attack on Sarmin was carried out just days after the UN Security Council adopted a resolution condemning the use of toxic chemicals such as chlorine.

The US and other council members have accused the government of Bashar al-Assad of carrying out chemical weapons attacks. They say the Syrian army is the only one in this conflict with helicopters that could have been heard in Sarmin and other places where attacks were carried out.