French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault called for an emergency meeting by the United Nations Security Council regarding reports of Tuesday's events in Idlib.
"A new and particularly serious chemical attack took place this morning in Idlib province. The first information suggests a large number of victims, including children. I condemn this disgusting act," Jean-Marc Ayrault said in a statement.
Reuters cited a Syrian military source who strongly denied the army had used any such weapons.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) cited medical sources claiming the death toll has increased to 58 people including 11 children.
SOHR added that it had reports of 160 injured persons and that the death toll may rise because many of the injured are critical.
The White Helmets, volunteer first responders, tweeted that its counts of those injured were much higher.
Civilian areas in Khan Shaykhun were targeted with poisonous gases this morning. Initial rprts of 50 killed incl wmn & chldrn, 300+ injured. pic.twitter.com/ZQ6MAgsqNO
— The White Helmets (@SyriaCivilDef) April 4, 2017
The presidents of Turkey and Russia, Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Vladimir Putin, respectively, reportedly discussed Idlib on the telephone.
"President Erdogan touched on the use of chemical weapons against civilians in Idlib. President Erdogan said such inhumane attacks are unacceptable," Reuters reported a statement attributed to presidential sources as saying.
The reports of the attack occur a day before the European Union, Germany, Kuwait, Norway, Qatar, the United Kingdom and the United Nations will send ministerial-level representatives to the Brussels Conference on 'Supporting the Future of Syria and the Region.'
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Activists blame 'chemical attack' for deaths in Syrian city
11:50 a.m.
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — A neighborhood in Khan Sheikhaun was attacked with material that is likely to result from the use of gases that caused suffocation associated with fainting, vomiting, nasal discharge, and other symptoms, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights claimed on Tuesday.
The opposition UK-based observatory which relies on local reports claimed it was an attack from airplanes. It added 18 are killed, likely to increase as tens of other are said to have been injured, some in critical conditions.
The opposition Local Co-Ordination Committees Network claimed that their initial reports indicate 40 people had died of suffocation.
The network also posted photos claiming to be the the deceased of Tuesday's attack with what appears to be a white, mucous under their noses and around their mouths. Many had their clothes partially stripped off and were being hosed down by water.
Rudaw could not independently verify the authenticity of the photos.
Idlib, in northwestern Syria, and surrounding areas have been under the control of rebel factions.
Despite United Nations claims of chemical weapons usage by the Syrian government, the President Bashar al-Assad has repeatedly denied them.
A ceasefire brokered by Russia, Iran, and Turkey in December 2016 has not held. The tripartite are set to meet in Tehran in the coming weeks.
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