The Ghouta chemical attack occurred on 21 August 2013 during the Syrian Civil War, when several opposition-controlled or disputed areas of the Ghouta suburbs of the Markaz Rif Dimashq district around Damascus, Syria, were struck by rockets containing the chemical agent sarin. Hundreds were killed in the attack, which took place over a short span of time in the early morning. Estimates of the death toll range from 'at least 281'[5] to 1,729 fatalities,[17] not less than 51 of whom were rebel fighters.[25] The incident may be the deadliest use of chemical weapons since the Iran–Iraq War.[26][27][28]
The United Nations mission investigated several attack sites, which were mere kilometres from the temporary quarters of UN inspectors who had arrived at the Syrian government's invitation to look into alleged chemical weapons use prior to the Ghouta attack.[29] The UN requested access to sites in Ghouta the day after the attack.[30][31][32] Syrian government forces continued to bomb the area on 22 August.[33] On 23 August, government and rebel forces clashed in Ghouta,[34] the Syrian military continued to shell Ghouta,[35] and the UN called for a ceasefire to allow inspectors to visit the Ghouta sites.[30] The Syrian government granted the UN's request on 25 August.[36][37][38] Inspectors worked from 26 to 31 August investigating sites of the attack.[39][40][41]