With the strength of Bashar al-Assad's forces diminishing in
Syria's civil war, global fears are mounting that Syria might
unleash chemical weapons to quash the country's uprising. The
government insists it would never use chemical weapons on its
own people. But world leaders say Syria's desperation could lead
to even more tragedy in the war-torn country. So what exactly
are chemical weapons, and what could they do to the human body?
A primer: --What kinds of weapons are we talking about? Military
analysts believe Syria may have one of the largest stockpiles of
chemical weapons in the world. Specifically, the supply could
include sarin, mustard and VX gases. U.S. intelligence indicates
Syria has mixed chemical compounds needed to make sarin -- a
deadly agent that can quickly kill thousands. --How do these
chemicals affect the body? Sarin gas is an odorless nerve agent
that can cause convulsions, paralysis and respiratory failure.
Nerve agents are the most toxic and rapidly acting of the known
chemical warfare