The situation has changed though. His regime's prospects of surviving are the best they've been since the war started. Why risk upsetting the current situation for such a small gain?

He has absolutely nothing to gain from using chemical agents when he is already winning through conventional means. Even more so considering he probably doesn't plan individual strikes

Much more likely this is a false flag pushed by Israel/Saudi Arabia because Assad's regime is an ally of Iran - their biggest rival in the region.

We don't know that, especially when it comes to using chemical weapons. And even if he doesn't, he definitely delegates to representatives he trusts.

> Much more likely this is a false flag

I'm honestly speechless.

If he didn't authorize it directly, it doesn't matter - his regime is set up in such a way that actors under his authority used chemical weapons on civilians.

The justification of a response is not impacted by whether or not he was individually responsible.

They don't and afaik no one is claiming that they do. The Syrian government isn't denying a bombing. They're saying that they bombed using conventional munitions but hit a chemical weapon stockpile.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iraq_and_weapons_of_mass_destr...