The United Nations Security Council convened yesterday and called for “clarity” regarding the latest alleged chemical attack by the Bashar al-Assad regime. While some details of yesterday’s chemical attack near Damascus remain murky – different groups have so far have offered different estimates of the casualties – the evidence was more than enough for France, Britain, and the United States to call the emergency session.

The attack occurred in the Ghouta region, on the eastern outskirts of Damascus.

It is unlikely that opposition elements could fake such a large scale attack, and analysts have suggested that Assad may have had a diplomatic incentive to launch it.

Nonetheless a formal call for an investigation was blocked by China and Russia. Western diplomats insist, however, the demand for “clarity” was a de facto call:

U.N. diplomats, however, said Russia and China opposed language containing an explicit call for a U.N. probe. An earlier Western-drafted statement, seen by Reuters, would have asked the United Nations to “urgently take the steps necessary for today’s attack to be investigated by the U.N. mission.”… That proposed statement was diluted to accommodate Russian and Chinese objections, council diplomats told Reuters.

British Deputy U.N. Ambassador Philip Parham said, however, that the council statement did amount to a de facto call for an investigation of the alleged gas attack.

There is already a U.N. team on the ground in Syria investigating allegations of past chemical weapons use. Whether the team will be given access to the target of yesterday’s attack remains unclear. Russia and China’s actions inside the Security Council mean that Damascus will get to choose whether or not to allow the team to investigate. Additionally the team requires a ceasefire between the Syrian regime and the rebels to ensure its safety.

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