International reactions to the Ghouta chemical attack of 21 August 2013 were widespread . The Ghouta chemical attack was a chemical weapons attack in Damascus , Syria during the Syrian Civil War . United States President Barack Obama said that the U.S. military should strike targets in Syria in retaliation for the government 's purported use of chemical weapons — a proposal supported by French President François Hollande but opposed by the Syrian government 's closest allies , Russia and Iran . Although the Arab League said it would support military action against Syria in the event of U.N. support , league members Egypt , Iraq , Lebanon , Tunisia and Algeria opposed intervention . On 14 September the U.S. and Russia announced an agreement on the Framework for Elimination of Syrian Chemical Weapons to destroy the Syria stockpile of chemical weapons and its production facilities , and Syria agreed to sign the Chemical Weapons Convention . The United Nations Security Council also passed Resolution 2118
Ghouta chemical attack
Ghouta chemical attack
International reactions to the Ghouta chemical attack