[4][5] The attack took place in Kafr Zita, a rebel-held[6] village located 30 kilometers (19 mi) north of Hama, in the context of the Syrian Civil War.
[10] According to VDC, she had severe symptoms from chlorine exposure and was transferred to a hospital in Turkey where she died five days after the attack due to inhaling of chemical and toxic gasses.
[3] According to Rami Abdel Rahman, the director of the pro-opposition Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, "regime planes bombed Kafr Zita with explosive barrels that produced thick smoke and odours and led to cases of suffocation and poisoning.
"[13] Opposition activists said the chemical attack occurred during fierce fighting when government troops appeared to be losing control of the strategic town of Khan Shaykhun.
[17] According to Hamish de Bretton-Gordon, a director of SecureBio consultancy and a former commander of the British Army's chemical readiness forces, "[t]he evidence from Kafr Zita is pretty compelling and is certainly being examined very carefully by officials.
"[14] Following subsequent scientific analysis of samples from multiple gas attacks, conducted exclusively for The Telegraph,[18] he said: "We have unequivocally proved that the regime has used chlorine and ammonia against its own civilians in the last two to three weeks.
"[19] Independent investigations by reporters from the German magazine Der Spiegel[20] and Daniele Raineri of Italy's Il Foglio found among the remnants of the bombs debris of apparently civilian Chlorine gas cylinders produced by Chinese manufacturer Norinco.